WILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A WARD has been temporarily axed and beds closed sparking fears that it spells the end for Warminster Community Hospital.

The decision to shut the last remaining ward at the hospital has been called a disaster for healthcare and a threat to the future of the whole building.

West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has blamed the cutback on a contract dispute with local GPs over out-of-hours cover.

The ward and a minor injuries unit will be temporarily closed from Wednesday and staff fear up to 50 medical jobs may be under threat.

Campaigners who fought the closure of the hospital's ward two in 1999 say they will resume their fight.

Former town councillor Ultan Ryan said: "It's so precious to the community. I believe the health authority is playing a nasty game. I have a feeling this will go the same way as ward two. If they close it, it will be hell to reopen again so we have to fight now."

All 24 beds will be closed from April 1 with in-patients moved to other hospitals. The minor injuries unit will move to Eastleigh Surgery, Westbury.

West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison said: "It's a bolt from the blue and a major disaster for health- care in Warminster."

The decision to close the ward was made after eight doctors from The Avenue Surgery resigned from their contracts to provide out of hours cover. Roger Davey, of the Warminster branch of health union Unison, said: "The whole building is under threat.

"It's devastating. It's a damaging cutback in services and is the worst situation for health in the town since the Second World War."

Town and district councillor Chris March said: "The GPs had little way out. The PCT had been pointing a loaded gun at them. We demand an urgent meeting with the Health Secretary to sort this out."

Peter Williams, business manager at The Avenue Surgery, defended the GPs decision to stop out-of-hours cover.

He said: "We had warned the PCT about this likely scenario on repeated occasions since last August.

"It is the PCT's responsibility to employ doctor cover for the community hospital. The doctors at The Avenue are responsible for patients at our surgery."

Sandy Major, assistant director of services at West Wiltshire PCT, Sandy Major, said: "This is very regrettable and is despite extensive negotiations taking place between the Primary Care Trust and GPs throughout west Wiltshire and neighbouring areas.

"We are very sorry we have had to put these emergency measures in place but we have to put the health of patients first. The absence of doctors to cover the ward and minor injuries unit means that it is impossible for us to keep them open.

"I would like to stress that these are temporary measures and we are continuing to negotiate with a wide range of GPs and to consider various options to get Warminster up and running again."