Patients are still confused about casualty opening times at Malmesbury Hospital months after opening times were cut.

At a meeting of Malmesbury Town Council last week Mayor John Bowen, said a mother found the hospital closed when she took her sick daughter there.

They were forced to make the half- an-hour journey to Chippenham Community Hospital so the girl could be be treated at the minor injuries unit which is open 24 hours a day. She has since recovered.

Coun Bowen said: "This shows just how much Malmesbury needs extended opening hours at the minor injury unit at Malmesbury hospital.

"It was very shabby the way the changes were handled. The health trust didn't ever consult the community."

The mother had complained to the Mayor about the situation.

Karen Pedley, the communications manager for the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust which runs Malmesbury Hospital. said: "When the decision was made there was some public comment. Local people were not happy. Since then I have not been aware of any formal complaint.

"We did a lot of publicity at the time to make people aware of the changes. If people arrive after hours there is information there about where they can get help."

There was no consultation with the community because the trust said it needed to take emergency action to solve the problem.

Robin Clark, the chairman of the of the Malmesbury Hospital League of Friends said: "We have been bounced into this because of staff shortages but we realise there are other problems."

People in Malmesbury have also voiced their concern.

Marion Hurcombe, 67, of Burton Hill said: "It is a real shame that we don't have these services any more. I am getting older and I would feel much safer if there were some sort of help available in Malmesbury. How can I get all the way to Chippenham?"

David Frayling, 44, of Barley Close said: "It is a pity there has been a reduction of hours. The community needs access to a hospital 24 hours a day."

The trust has posted information at the hospital to advise people what to do if they arrive and the unit is closed.

There is also a telephone line connected direct to Chippenham's minor injuries unit.

Staff at Chippenham will be able to give people advice and help people decide whether they should go home and consult their GP in the morning, receive first aid at the minor injury unit at Chippenham or, for more serious cases, at the accident and emergency department at Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon.

Other sources of help include NHS Direct where people can talk to a health expert over the phone.

The hours of the minor injury unit at Malmesbury hospital have been slashed over the last couple of years.

Five years ago the unit was able to treat patients 24 hours a day but in 1998 the hours were cut to 7am until 10pm.

There were further reductions in July this year when hours were reduced to a 9am to 5pm opening time.

The trust said it had to reduce hours because there were not enough nurses to cover shifts.

The hospital had been operating with a minimum of staff for some time and could no longer afford to employ agency nurses.

The trust said shortages of staff during the school holidays and experienced nurses choosing to cut their availability meant staff could no longer adequately cover two shifts.