FAMILY GP Barney Williams says his Chippenham practice has been given a stay of execution, thanks to patient power.

He had feared that, following a row with health chiefs, his Marshfield Road Surgery would have to shut at the end of the month when his NHS contract runs out.

Now the Department of Health has called in the issue for arbitration and Dr Williams' contract has been extended.

Dr Williams paid tribute to his patients for their support and the many letters they had written to lobby the Department of Health.

"From the comments in the letter from the DoH, the publicity and support from patients has had a real impact," said Dr Williams.

"I do hugely appreciate everything the patients have done to support the surgery. They have sent hundreds of letters, and not because we asked them to."

He says he has also been told by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust that it will not be taking any more money from his budget to cover out-of-hours provision.

"It looks a lot more hopeful than it did," said Dr Williams.

The dispute with the trust began when Dr Williams withdrew from a contractual agreement to provide out of hours cover because he believed the standard of service he could offer was insufficient.