THIS weekend could see hundreds of protestors marching through the county town in a final effort to save community hospitals.

Campaigners are asking people from all five west Wiltshire towns to join in a march through Trowbridge tomorrow to show the health authorities the strength of feeling over the proposed closures.

Jeff Osborn, chairman of the Friends of Trowbridge Hospital, said: "This is could be the last chance we have to really make our voices heard because the consultation period with the public is now over."

West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) has held a series of consultation meetings across the district over the future of health care.

In a bid to save millions of pounds the PCT is aiming to completely reform the way people are cared for.

Under the proposals put forward community hospitals in Trowbridge and Warminster would join Westbury and Bradford on Avon on the closure list, while a question mark hangs over the future of Melksham Hospital. In their place there would be a strong emphasis on caring for people at home as much as possible.

Those needing outpatient medical care would be treated at new Primary Care Centres, nicknamed super-surgeries. which would take on the role previously played by community hospitals, as well as taking on some of the treatments offered at main hospitals such as the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

People could have minor operations, scans and other treatments at the primary care centres but, in a move that has most worried the public, there would not be any inpatient beds. Those people requiring beds would have to travel to the nearest new generation hospital.

Under the PCT's proposals this would either be in Melksham or Chippenham. Cllr Osborn said: "Even if we can't have one of these hospitals in Trowbridge we must have one in west Wiltshire. "We need to work together now to make sure that happens and to make the PCT realise the strength of feeling about this."