BED closures in a Chippenham hospital could mean problems for patients in Swindon, an MP has warned.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray says that closing 33 beds at Chippenham Hospital will have a knock-on effect on Swindon's Great Western Hospital and could lead to a lack of beds and more pressure on staff resources.

The MP made the comment as campaigners from Chippenham Hospital Action Group launched their latest attack on the Primary Care Trust's proposed closure of all but 10 beds at Chippenham Hospital.

Campaigners say it will mean patients will have to spend longer at the GWH and Bath's Royal United Hospital instead of returning to their nearest community hospital.

Mr Gray said: "We already have a shortage of beds in Swindon, so keeping some patients in for longer because they have nowhere else to go will lead to bed blocking."

He is hoping community hospital supporters will join Chippenham Hospital Action Group and gather at Chippenham Town Hall on March 1 for a public meeting about the proposed closure.

He said: "The only solution is to keep these beds open and that is a motion I shall be taking to Parliament."

Dr Nick Brown, of Chippenham Hospital Action Group, said: "We have heard from 60 consultants across the area who felt they were already witnessing problems of bed shortages and they have said that care would be compromised if there were any fewer beds.

"The truth is that 43 beds at Chippenham is not enough, let alone whittling that down to 10."

The PCT has set up community care teams designed to treat patients in their homes, so they can return from hospital early, or not have to be admitted at all.

But Dr Brown said: "In a rural place it is unrealistic to think that these teams can go from house to house with their equipment, because it won't work."

Despite the concerns, GWH chief executive Lyn Hill-Tout says the hospital has no reason to believe the bed closures will affect it.

She said: "We have been involved in the consultation process regarding medical provision for some time and have no reason to believe that bed closures in Chippenham would lead to blocking at the GWH.

"We haven't seen any strain on resources since minor injury units closed at the community hospitals and we don't expect to see a knock-on effect."