I WRITE with regard to the current situation at Chippenham's Marshfield Road Surgery, which has been under threats of various kinds from its local governing bodies for a long while.

On February 25 I attended a board meeting of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust in public.

Questions were asked regarding Marshfield Road Surgery seeking reassurance for staff and patients and information on the repercussions on the whole of Chippenham.

The PCT chief executive, Barbara Smith, categorically refused to answer any questions or allow any discussions. This in itself was unacceptable as questions from the public had been invited.

Having refused any discussion however, she then continued, in public, to state that "this practice is in breach of its contract."

As this matter is entirely in dispute and in no way proven, this statement was outrageous.

I was then forced to speak above the chair, who declared the issue closed, to state that this was in dispute and request my statement be minuted.

It is acceptable for the PCT to make public statements as they choose, but not to allow any balance from the public, to whom it has a duty of care.

If patients' views are so disregarded at this level, can we expect them to be considered at all?

MRS D SCOTT

Hill Corner Road, Chippenham