THE closure of Westbury day hospital was announced as thousands of campaigners attended a rally in Westminster to protest about hospital closures.

On Tuesday West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust revealed that from Monday day patients at Westbury hospital would be transferred to Warminster. Gordon King, chairman of Westbury Hospital Campaign Group, said: "Once again staff, patients and the community of Westbury have been given insufficient notice of the closure of this unit, which has occurred without proper consultation with stakeholders.

"West Wiltshire PCT has been content to reveal itself as not being interested in the views of the public, rather it is determined to carry out its agenda regardless. This is yet another black day for Westbury; however if the PCT thinks it will break our resolve they are sadly mistaken."

As the closure was made public, campaigners from across west Wiltshire were at the protest in the capital. The rally was organised by Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together (CHANT), an organisation set up to fight for the survival of 80 community hospitals under threat nationwide.

West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison, who has worked closely with CHANT, said: "This was our opportunity to tell the Health Secretary what we think of the demolition job PCTs are undertaking in west Wiltshire and across the country. "I want the minister to deliver on the commitments given to community hospitals in her policy document earlier this year."

Leader of the Opposition David Cameron addressed the crowd, and in the evening Dr Murrison presented a petition in the Commons on behalf of his constituents. Two coachloads of people from Westbury attended the rally, along with campaigners from Bradford on Avon.

According to the PCT, the decision to close the day hospital was taken as since the closure of the inpatient unit on March 5 it has proved unsustainable to provide a safe level of support for nursing staff. The PCT insisted the decision to announce the closure on the day of the CHANT rally was purely a coincidence.

A spokesman said: "The board agreed on August 31 2005 to the part closure of Westbury hospital. The services the board agreed to transfer to other community hospitals nearby were inpatient unit, day hospital, outpatient physiotherapy and outpatient consultant clinics."

Some services, including the community dentist and White Horse GP surgery, will remain at Westbury.

  • The Westbury Hospital Campaign Group has now raised £2,000 to fight the closure of the town's hospital. The public have contributed by giving to collections organised at the Westbury's two supermarkets and at the town's clubs and pubs. The next phase of the fundraising campaign will begin on April 9, with a football match between teams from Westbury United and Trowbridge Town at Meadow Lane, Westbury, starting at 3pm.

A quiz evening and raffle takes place on the same day at the Hollies Inn at Westbury Leigh at 8pm. Tickets for the football match will be available in advance from the Westbury United box office.