ANGRY patients have threatened to take out a High Court injunction to stop the health authority sacking GP Barney Williams.

Emotions ran high at a meeting in Sheldon School on Tuesday when hundreds of people who are registered at the Marshfield Road Surgery in Chippenham, questioned Dr Williams about the future of their healthcare.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has been in dispute with Dr Williams since he refused to undertake the out of hours care of his patients, and the trust could terminate his NHS contract on January 30, leaving 3,500 people without a doctor.

The trust has assured patients they will not be left out in the cold but it has consistently refused to comment about the contingency plans it has in place.

Patients have been rallying round the GP and three have decided to seek a High Court injunction on the basis that the PCT is failing in its duty of care.

Cedric Norton, chairman of the Friends of Marshfield Road Surgery, which organised the meeting, said the patients had been given no notice of the closure and many undergoing ongoing treatment would suffer as a result.

"The patients see no reason to close the practice where the care they receive is second to none," he said.

The threat of legal action against the PCT was suggested by one of the patients and taken up by Dr Williams.

He said: "Three patients will put themselves forward as individuals supported by money from the Friends to make an initial assessment.

This may make the PCT see there are still serious objections."

After the meeting Dr Williams confirmed the three patients, who might be entitled to Legal Aid because they received benefits, were seeking a local solicitor to take the case to a barrister.

The meeting also recorded a vote of no confidence in the trust and patients agreed to protest to the trust's board at the meeting on January 27 at Southgate House in Devizes.

Around 50 people have signed up to join the protest, beginning with a car convoy from Chippenham to Devizes prior to the meeting.

Protesters will meet at the car park near the football ground in Bristol Road at 1pm.

Dr Williams told the meeting he would not be able to write NHS prescriptions, make referrals or send off specimens if the contract was ended.

He said he would keep the surgery open for some weeks after the contract ended, to give medical advice.