THOUSANDS of patients could lose their GP if Marshfield Road Surgery in Chippenham loses its NHS contract at the end of March.

Staff and patients at the surgery are afraid the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Healthcare Trust will terminate the contract with the surgery after Dr Barney Williams backed out of supplying out of hours cover for his patients in the autumn.

Chief executive Barbara Smith issued a Notice of Closure on the contract in September 2002, due to take effect at the end of March.

Practice nurse Bridget Holland said she was growing increasingly alarmed about the situation facing the 3,600 patients registered at the surgery.

She said: "Forcing Dr Williams to liquidate his practice due to unprecedented bills for out of hours service, foisting 3,580 patients on to already over-stretched Chippenham GPs will result in longer appointment delays for all residents and an inevitable reduction of quality of care."

Ms Holland said the uncertainty surrounding the future of the surgery meant she could not reassure her patients they would still be receiving care after March, and could not plan their appointments beyond that date.

An out of hours co-operative was set up by north Wiltshire GPs to provide out of hours cover in the area, but the co-operative has always refused to allow Dr Williams to join. Consequently Dr Williams was responsible for the care of his patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

He warned the trust he could not cope with the demands and expressed concern his patients were not receiving an adequate out of hours service.

Finally, in October he informed the trust he was backing out of providing the out of hours cover and the trust was obliged to make alternative arrangements.

Dr Williams was billed £11,000 for the first three months for the provision of alternative cover.

Dr Williams was due to attend a hearing into his breach of the contract this week, but the Avon, Gloucester and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority postponed the meeting.

Dr Williams is particularly concerned no provision has been made for his patients.

"I care very much indeed about these human beings, many of whom have entrusted me with their lives and the lives of their children for more than 30 years," he said.

Dr Williams has now written to the Department of Health warning that without a contract he will not be able to issue NHS prescriptions or off-work certificates, or book any appointments for patients with new or current conditions after 6pm on March 31 only three and a half weeks away.

North Wiltshire district councillor Monica Blake said the matter was extremely urgent, and would be discussed at a meeting of the area committee on Monday.

She said: "None of the patients have been informed of any contingency plans," she said."It's diabolical. They will have to look for a new doctor. What are we to do? It's very worrying."