THERE were mixed feelings among health campaigners this week as the fate of community hospitals was finally revealed.

Under new proposals from Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, due to be approved in a meeting on Tuesday, the board has made a turnaround decision to keep Warminster Hospital open, but Trowbridge Hospital will definitely shut.

Melksham Hospital will lose its 12 beds, but may have 20 beds for mentally ill patients instead, while Chippenham Hospital will be left with just 10 beds. The moves will save the trust about £2m a year.

Trowbridge League of Friends Chairman and town councillor Jeff Osborn said: "It's a bit of a shock. On one level we have to look at the bigger picture and it is great that Warminster is keeping its hospital as it's important there is a community hospital in west Wiltshire.

"But coming back to Trowbridge, the issue I am most concerned about is the loss of our maternity service. Talk to any of the local people and they'll say the maternity unit has always been a jewel in the crown but the PCT has not listened."

Nicholas Gillard, the PCT's interim director of planning and partnership, denied the board had not taken heed of public comments.

"We listened long and hard to what people had to say. What I need to make absolutely clear is that access to post and ante-natal care will continue to be available in the local community," he said.

Trowbridge's award-winning maternity unit is due to close in January 2009 and the service will be transferred to a new unit in Chippenham which will have 14 beds.

General medical beds in Trowbridge are due to be reduced to 22 in September and fall to 10 in December, with the entire hospital due to shut in July 2009.

This coincides with the planned opening of Trowbridge's Primary Care Centre (PCC), which will take on a number of the hospital's existing services and provide outpatient facilities like x-rays, scans and other diagnostic and clinical services but have no in-patient beds.

Mr Gillard confirmed the centre would be a new building and would not use the existing hospital site. Trowbridge will also have a minor injury unit in its PCC, which will be open 24 hours a day.

West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison expressed his dismay at plans to axe Westbury and Trowbridge hospitals including the district's maternity unit and Charter House.

He said: "The PCT is trying to put a gloss on its unwelcome closure plans that are designed to help resolve its financial crisis. Axing our fantastic Trowbridge and Westbury hospitals together with Charter House and our wonderful maternity unit and failing to offer anything in return for the loss of Bradford on Avon Hospital is unacceptable.

"The the only silver lining I can see is the reprieve of Warminster Hospital, although it's not entirely clear what services it will be offering in the PCT's brave new world."

Cllr Osborn said he felt angry about the lack of support Trowbridge's GPs had shown to the hospital in favour of a PCC.

He said: "I don't want to apportion blame but they were never on board for saving the hospital like they were in Warminster."

Staff in Trowbridge Hospital have also reacted angrily to the news of the closure, after being informed at a meeting on Wednesday.

Other changes in west Wiltshire include plans for neighbourhood teams, three each for north and west Wiltshire, to cover all community areas, providing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In Westbury the PCT has said it will not be providing a PCC but will support GPs to develop a similar facility in the town. The hospital will remain closed, with the few remaining services being taken out in August 2008.

At Chippenham Hospital, there will be 10 general medical in-patient beds, 20 beds for stroke patients and 14 maternity beds. Its minor injury unit will have its hours cut from 24 hours a day to 7am-1am.

Campaigners have reacted angrily to the news of bed losses and the reduction in opening hours of the minor injury unit. Elizabeth Sexton, chairman of Chippenham Hospital League of Friends, said: "I am very sad to hear about the cuts despite half expecting there to be a reduction in the number of beds. It is mad to reduce the number of beds and I disagree strongly with the move.

"It will be the elderly, frail and vulnerable people who suffer and where will they go? They will probably send them home and promise to care for them through visits but many of these people need looking after around the clock."

However there is also good news for Chippenham with the PCT announcing a bid for public sector capital funding has been submitted which could see an extended refurbishment programmed for Chippenham hospital.

Mr Gillard added: "The plan is to have a network of services that will serve the whole population of Wiltshire. Our view and job is to take the overall view, not to take interest in one hospital over another," he said.

In Warminster health supporters were pleased with the news of the hospital's last minute reprieve.

Richard Vine, chairman of Warminster Hospital League of Friends, said: "We all tend to be rather cynical but it seems they have actually listened.

"There wasn't a single person from this area who wanted the hospital to close.

"We were very gloomy so to suddenly find they've listened to what we've been saying is very good news. I'm absolutely delighted."