STAFF at Devizes Community Hospital are deeply unhappy with recent changes to working practices and some will leave the profession if things do not change soon, it has been claimed.

Despite assurances from Phil Day, director of community services for Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, that staff were satisfied with the amalgamation of Kennet and Avon wards into Elizabeth Ward, north and south, most workers at the hospital are in despair and morale is at an all-time low, according to some staff.

One member of staff wrote to the Gazette: "Has Mr Day been wearing ear-plugs or is it that he has distanced himself so far away from where it all happens that he can justify being quoted as saying 'I have not heard of any complaints about the new system'?

"Historically there has been a problem with recruitment but if the staff were valued more and given support, perhaps the problem of retention would be one less concern for management."

She added: "The nursing staff most definitely did not agree to the management plan for the recent 'philosophical' change to working practice on Kennet and Avon wards, or to the duplicity of its implementation. The short two weeks' notice given caused great disruption and distress and far from reaching its objective of a united and stimulated workforce, has had the opposite effect of a sick, demoralised and very unhappy workforce."

Other members of staff are angry about Mr Day's claim that they have all been consulted about the changes and expressed their consent to them.

Another member of the nursing staff told the Gazette: "The changes have just made a bad situation worse and the fact that we were all sent letters telling us about what was virtually a fait accompli has brought morale to rock bottom. The girls are all up in arms and very unhappy indeed."

Nurses, as with other employees of the National Health Service, are barred by their contracts from making their opinions public.

But Roger Davey, Unison's senior steward for the Kennet and North Wilts Trust, spoke to staff this week and has sought an urgent meeting with the management.

He said: "These changes, as far as we can see, are completely unnecessary and have just caused a lot of upset. A lot of agency nurses are being used at the same time as hospital nurses are being moved from wards where they have served for years. So no one is familiar with their new posts and, as a result, everyone is unhappy.

"What we will be asking for is a reverse of the changes that have been made and a return to the status quo."

Sarah Zanoni, the hospital's representative at the Royal College of Nursing, has set up a meeting with the trust that is set for early October.

She said: "There is no denying that staff at the hospital are very unhappy with the changes. The trust has asked the Royal College of Nursing to work with them to overcome the problems and we are happy to do so.

"Devizes Community Hospital has a good reputation with its patients and we want that to continue.

"Improving patient care and reducing stress on staff are not mutually exclusive aims.

"I have heard people saying that if this is not sorted out they will walk, and we are taking the threat seriously. That is why we want to get this sorted out at the earliest possible moment and I'm sure it can be done."