None of the 11 teams of health professionals set up by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust are working extended hours, it was announced today.

All were due to operate from the beginning of July, 24 hours a day, but that was changed to 7am to 10pm due to staffing difficulties.

Initially, three teams covering the Marlborough, Calne and Malmesbury areas were not working the extended hours but the PCT announced today that none of the teams are working the extended hours.

Instead they are generally operating from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. However Devizes is being covered from 8am to 9pm.

Both Unison and the Royal College of Nursing were in dispute with the PCT about the transfer of staff to the teams and said there was not enough staff to cover the extended hours safely.

The PCT said it was planning for the teams to go to 24-hour working in October and would not extend the hours until then.

The teams comprise nurses, therapists and support workers who treat patients at home and are being set up as community hospital beds across the county are closed down.

Devizes Hospital was the first to lose its beds at the end of June.

The PCT said people requiring treatment out of hours should ring their GP surgery which will direct them to an out of hours service for advice.

Despite having had five months to prepare for the introduction of the teams the unions said the PCT had not interviewed staff about their roles.

Following more talks with union representatives the PCT will hold one to one meetings for staff in the next month.

If staff are going to have to change their shift pattern there would have to be a three-month consultation.

Margaret Williams, senior steward for the Royal College of Nursing in Wiltshire, said: "I am really pleased that we have reached this agreement.

"The concerns raised by my members ten days ago are real but not insurmountable. The PCT has listened and is taking them seriously.

"This new way forward will ensure that they are addressed."

Jeff James, chief executive of the PCT, said: "This is a major change programme for our staff and we understand that change can be difficult.

"This is why we are taking more time over introducing these new services to talk with our staff individually about what change means for them.

"It is very important to us that we take our staff with us in this process of change. We know that the quality of the care we provide to people in Wiltshire depends on the motivation and commitment of our staff.

"We know too that many staff are excited by the possibilities that will open up when we are able to provide round the clock care at home.

"It seems sensible to take a little more time to make sure the new services are introduced with full staff support.

"When we planned the Reforming Community Services programme we deliberately chose to use a phased approach and made sure that the programme would include the flexibility to allow us to make any adjustments which might become necessary as we worked through implementation with our staff.

"We are confident that our existing services will continue to provide safe patient care while these further consultations are carried out."

The setback to the teams will not stop the impending closures of a number of community hospital beds in Melksham, Warminster, Trowbridge and Chippenham in September.

Gabrielle Tilley, senior district nurse and co-ordinator of the Devizes neighbourhood team, said: "Patients will continue to be the focus of everything we do.

"Existing services will provide safe care for our existing patients while we introduce the new ways of working. It will take time to adjust but my colleagues and I are convinced that this is the right way forward."