NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray has accused Health Minister Hazel Blears of not caring about the future of Malmesbury Hospital.

Mr Gray blamed the Health Minister of indifference to the £10m debt owed by Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which is threatening to close Malmesbury and Devizes Hospitals, during health questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

He asked Ms Blears what she would do to save Malmesbury Hospital. In response, the Minister said there was an extra £45m of investment in local health services for the PCT.

She added that comments printed in the local press by Mr Gray, about alleged remarks she had made during a meeting held last month, were entirely untrue and a travesty.

Ms Blears said Mr Gray had not shown the necessary support to his local health community. Mr Gray said he viewed the response as a personal attack.

At the meeting, Ms Blears had refused to write off the debt the PCT owes to the Government. Mr Gray said: "It was a very bad meeting, she was not committed to saving the hospital and I think I must have hit a raw nerve."

But Ms Blears said she had had a constructive meeting, not with Mr Gray, but with Devizes MP Michael Ancram and the chairman and chief executive of the PCT, who were also present.

She said: "The PCT is under financial pressure, but it has an extra £45m of investment in its local services."

Mr Gray said he thought it was missed opportunity for the minister to allay local concerns about the closure of the hospital.

A district council meeting was held last night at Malmesbury Town Hall to discuss the future of the hospital.