MAYOR Margaret Boulton wants people from the Marlborough and Pewsey area to show their support for keeping a working hospital at Savernake by attending a public meeting in the town on Monday.

She has called the meeting at 7pm in the town hall to demonstrate to health service chiefs the strength of feeling in the area that Savernake Hospital must be retained at all costs.

This week Coun Boulton told the Gazette: "I want as many people as possible to come out and show their support for Savernake Hospital.

"This will be their opportunity to have their say and to show their concern over the future of what everyone in this area regards as their hospital."

The meeting was called because some of the hospitals run by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust face closure.

The trust has to slash its operating costs in a bid to recoup some of the £10million debt it inherited from the Royal United Hospital, in Bath, when the former Ridgeway Downs and North Wiltshire trusts merged last year.

Over the years Savernake Hospital has repeatedly been the victim of health service cuts.

It has been reduced to a day hospital with a psychiatric ward for elderly people and a well-used and well-respected minor injuries unit.

Fifteen years ago the hospital lost its maternity unit which had previously been used by families from a widespread rural area.

More recently the hospital has lost its operating theatres although it has retained its X-ray unit.

There is growing feeling in the Marlborough and Pewsey area that Savernake Hospital serves that it should have the same facilities as Chippenham Hospital, including a maternity unit and a surgery.

Speakers at Monday's meeting will include the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust's chief executive Barbara Smith, the new Savernake Hospital project manager Peter Williams, members of the PCT trust and former Marlborough GP Dr Nick Maurice.