NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray is backing the fight to save Malmesbury Hospital, but unlike his Devizes counterpart believes a softly softly approach is the right option.

Mr Gray believes it is too early to be writing letters to health secretary Alan Milburn.

He said: "I will be supporting the campaign to make sure there are no cuts or loss of services. I think it is very unlikely the hospital will close.

"I will raise a question in the House of Commons if Malmesbury Hospital is to close but I will be saving my powder on that front until we have what the PCT are proposing.

"I raised the matter with the chair of the strategic health authority, Anthea Millett. She said there was a possibility there would be no need for any closures at all the difference could be made from the sale of the PCT's old headquarters at Pans Lane in Devizes and two or three ambulance cuts.

"I think until we hear more fully from the PCT and they have completed their consultation, the situation is unclear. The story does not ring true; I will wait to hear more fully."

But last week Barbara Smith, the chief executive of the North Wiltshire and Kennet Primary Care Trust, did not deny that Devizes and Malmesbury Hospitals were likely to disappear in their present form.

A document published last week showed the trust wants to have just two community hospitals in its district instead of the present four.

One would link with the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and the other with the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Mrs Smith made it clear that Chippenham Hospital and Savernake Hospital at Marlborough were the two most likely to be chosen.

She stressed that health provision would remain in the other two towns but it was likely to be downgraded.

Services such as casualty and 24- hour minor injury care would be likely to disappear, along with acute beds.

Doctors in Devizes fear only a large scale health centre and glorified nursing home will survive.