THE casualty unit in Melksham will again be forced to close at night just one month after re-opening.

The news has sent shockwaves around the town with residents being told the unit could be closed overnight for up to six months.

Blamed on a shortage of specialist staff, the unit at Melksham Hospital, Spa Road, will be closed between 7pm and 11am from April 15.

Fears over the long-term future of the unit were expressed in January when a shortage of nurses led to a nine-week closure.

West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which was accused of trying to find a back-door method to axe the unit, promised it would reopen when staff were available.

The unit reopened at the end of February but many fear this latest closure marks the beginning of the end for a night-time service.

Cllr Sarah Cardy said the closure was a bad omen.

"It is not looking hopeful for the future," she said.

"You can't magic nurses up but what we need to do as a town is monitor the situation and get reassurances that when staff are fully trained it will open again.

"There are other services available like NHS Direct but people need this night-time service.

"The concern again this time is that they are trying to justify its closure."

Hilary Fairfield, director of services at the NHS Trust, said two members of staff had been recruited but they needed a minimum of six months' training to deal with a casualty unit.

She said the temporary closure was unavoidable and a full risk assessment was carried out before the decision was made.

"We obviously regret having to close any of our local facilities.

"Working independently in a casualty unit takes special skills," she said.

In a survey the trust found an average of two to three people use the service on a daily basis with only seven people referred to Trowbridge during the unit's nine-week closure.

Nick Westbrook, of Bath and District Community Health Council, said the issue would be raised at a meeting next Wednesday.

Concerns over ambulance cover, nursing costs and use of casualty units in west Wiltshire are among the issues up for discussion.

Cllr Vic Oakman said people in Melksham would be upset and disappointed about the closure but the trust had given its word that the move was not a permanent one.

He said: "Their word is their bond.

"If we find it has been lying and the unit will not reopen then they will be held open to ridicule.

"People will be upset but I can understand the problem with staffing."