'Sacked' GP's patients protest

Dr Williams would not work out-of-hours

Patients who are protesting against the closure of a doctor's surgery in Chippenham demonstrated at a meeting in Devizes on Tuesday.

Dr Barney Williams has been told by North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) his contract will not be renewed at the end of this month.

The dispute surrounds Dr Williams wanting to opt out of providing an out-of-hours service.

The PCT says the GP is in breach of his contract.

Dr Williams' patients have started a legal fund and plan to take the PCT to court.

Extra doctors

On Tuesday, about 100 patients lobbied the PCT at a meeting in Devizes.

They called for the trust to immediately suspend a threat to close the practice, and to agree to meet them within 21 days to try to resolve the issue.

If this is unsuccessful, from Monday Dr Williams' patients will be treated at the nearby Hathaway's surgery.

This practice will have to take on extra doctors to cope with the new patients.