A PETITION signed by more than 400 people calling for a minor injuries unit to be created at the NHS Treatment Centre in Devizes has been presented to health bosses.

The petition was organised by Devizes Labour Party but has support from people of all political persuasions in the town.

Former Devizes Mayor Noel Woolrych believes creating the new unit at the centre in Marshall Road, Devizes, would be a simple solution.

He said: "Devizes people have been let down time and time again by successive health administrations that have promised a lot but not delivered.

"Back when I was mayor in 1999/2000 there was talk of a new hospital. Then in 2006 we got very close to it happening. The plan was to sell off the old hospital site to pay for a new facility opposite Green Lane Hospital.

"The treatment centre offers a very good service and has modern diagnostic equipment including X-ray so it would be an ideal place for a minor injuries unit."

The petition was sent to Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group by Sue Buxton, secretary of Devizes Constituency Labour Party, and its receipt was acknowledged at the start of its governing body meeting last week.

It will be discussed at the next meeting on July 21.

Mrs Buxton said: "Our petition asks for consideration for the treatment centre to be used as a minor injuries unit, staffed by local GPs and their nurses on a rota basis, as used to happen at the old Devizes Community Hospital."

An earlier petition calling for a minor injuries unit to be restored to Devizes was presented to NHS Wiltshire in December 2012.

It had the backing of MP Claire Perry, who handed over the petition with more than 2,500 names. She said: "I know just how important this issue is to my constituents and I would like to see solutions being considered which will enable people with minor injuries to be treated locally."

She also put the NHS at the top of election pledges and after re-election this month said: "I pledge to help our brilliant NHS to deliver more services to local families, especially in Devizes where we need the Primary Care centre we were promised."

Devizes lost its minor injuries unit in 2007 two years after the hours were reduced. Patients now have to travel to major accident and emergency centres in Swindon and Bath or to minor injuries units in Chippenham or Trowbridge.