A DEAL has been reached to keep the threatened inpatient ward at Warminster Community Hospital open for another three months.

Doctors from the Adcroft Surgery in Trowbridge have been covering the ward since March, when beds were temporarily closed after a contract row with a local surgery.

On Friday the hospital announced to staff that a deal had been agreed between the surgery and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to provide out-of-hours cover.

The threatened ward will now stay open until the end of September, but no guarantees on the long-term future of the hospital have been given.

The minor injuries unit will remain at Eastleigh Surgery in Westbury, where it was moved after the out-of-hours contract row with The Avenue Surgery in March.

Dr Huw Williams, senior partner at Adcroft Surgery, said: "Despite the additional workload, we are happy to continue to provide this important service for the PCT."

The decision was made last week and revealed to staff on Friday, as reported in the Wiltshire Times. It is expected Adcroft Surgery will provide 24-hour cover to the inpatient ward on a rolling three-month contract until a permanent deal can be secured.

Town and district councillor Chris March said: "This is very good news but what we really want is to know whether they will carry on until the end of the year. If doctors have agreed to take on the contract past the end of the year we will be much happier."

Hundreds of campaigners have signed a petition and shops, and businesses and homes across the town centre are displaying Support Warminster Hospital stickers to show local concern.

Doctors from Smallbrook Surgery in Warminster are currently in negotiations with health bosses about a move to the hospital.

Cllr March said: "At a PCT board meeting I asked about the rumour that Smallbrook Surgery would move into the hospital and I was given a positive answer.

"I don't see any reason why, if the negotiations can be concluded, then Smallbrook can't move in, but we await to hear the details."