THE recent declaration on savage cuts by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust officer Nicholas Gilliard has shown it is just a continuation of North Wiltshire & Kennet and West Wiltshire PCT.

Ironically its title includes the word "Trust" because trust in that organisation does not exist. Our local healthcare is not safe in their hands.

A health research institute has said "The quest for financial balance must not come at the expense of patient care." In central Wiltshire, particularly in maternity provision where heavily pregnant women will have to make their way to inaccessible Chippenham, it will come at the expense of patient care.

The highly controversial decision on January 30 will be made by a board still lacking three of its members. The suspicion will be that officers are rushing this through to ensure they cannot be outvoted.

The partiality and credibility of the Wiltshire PCT is now a very serious issue. North Wiltshire PCT's historic massive debt will result in devastating cuts in west Wiltshire and Kennet, yet leave North Wilts virtually unscathed. This cannot be justified by financial bankruptcy - there would be cuts across the county, not just concentrated in central Wiltshire.

The NHS Appointments Board state that if PCT board members lose "the confidence of the public or local community in a substantial way" it will no longer be "in the interests of the health service" that they continue in office. Board members' jobs are on the line on January 30.

C GALE, Devizes