REPORTS that Chippenham Hospital will close have been labelled as "scaremongering".

Newspaper reports yesterday said the hospital was under threat. Health chief Carol Clarke said on Friday in a meeting with MP James Gray that she could give no assurances the hospital would stay open.

A spokesman for the two primary care trusts in the area said this is the same response she has given about the future of all community hospitals in west Wiltshire, Kennet and north Wiltshire.

The two trusts are about to reveal their plans for the future of healthcare in the Pathways for Change consultation document. Earlier this month Mrs Clarke said a new breed of community hospital for the new generation was needed.

Cllr Ross Henning said this week: "I have never heard that it was under threat before.

"I think to say it was is a case of scaremongering." Nicholas Gillard, spokesman for the two primary care trusts, said: "Kennet & North and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts will launch a public consultation on the review of primary and community health services on April 7.

"It is inappropriate to speculate on the detailed proposals for any individual service, or indeed, building. "There will be 13 weeks during the consultation for everyone to find out what we are proposing, ask questions, and feedback on our proposals.

"The consultation will not be suggesting we simply stop treating patients, quite the reverse. "It will be proposing we treat more patients in a way that is better for them, often closer to home, either at home or in their GP surgeries, and that we provide the most appropriate care our patients want and need."

Mr Gray, MP for north Wiltshire, refused to comment when approached by the Chippenham News.