THE future of Malmesbury Hospital could be decided in a proposal document to be released to the press tomorrow.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is looking at ways to tackle a £10 million deficit and will publish results of the six-month consultation exercise and outline proposals for the future of the hospital in the document.

Fears are growing in Malmesbury that the trust will close the hospital and sell the site leaving only a glorified nursing home and health centre.

At a meeting of North Wiltshire District Council on Wednesday, trust chief executive Barbara Smith said it was looking to consolidate services around two community hospitals that would support Swindon's Great Western Hospital and Bath's Royal United Hospital.

She did not say where those hospitals would be based but it is believed the trust favours retaining hospitals at Chippenham and Savernake.

Mrs Smith tried to allay fears when she said the trust was looking to explore options for Malmesbury Hospital including expanding the catchment area for the maternity unit and moving Gable House Surgery to the site.

Malmesbury Hospital League of Friends has vowed to fight any closure or a reduction of services.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray handed in a 2,300-signature petition protesting against the possible closure to the House of Commons on Monday.

Mr Gray, who vowed to continue the battle to save the community hospital, said: "They are not unnaturally concerned about the indifference of the Department of Health to the inherited debt of the local Primary Care Trust, which may well result in the closure of, or suspension of, some of the service at Malmesbury."