THE fate of the proposed new hospital for Devizes could be known in September.

Campaigners fear that the long talked about plans to build a new hospital on land at Green Lane, Devizes, will be nothing more than a glorified health clinic.

Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust have to make combined savings of around £11million.

Both trusts have started a major review of their services and will present details of what areas they are focusing on at board meetings in September.

As well as fears for a new hospital in Devizes people in West Wiltshire fear some community hospitals will close.

The decision on what future health facilities will be provided in Devizes depends on where a diagnostic and treatment centre is to be located and the trusts are considering either Devizes or Melksham Hospital.

Stephen Golledge, acting chief executive of both PCTs, has previously said that the close proximity of Devizes and Melksham raises questions over whether some services are duplicated and if some could be provided in either location rather than both.

He said: "We have been living beyond our means for several years and it has to stop. I am confident that by working with clinicians and the public, we can design more efficient services which may not always be associated with a community hospital."

Phil Day, director of strategic service change at both trusts, is leading the review.

He said this week that one of the key areas the review will focus on would be about providing care for people in their own homes.

If major changes are planned to services, public consultation is envisaged to be carried out in January with the trusts making decisions in late March or early April.

Mr Day said: "We recognise the timetable is very short but we believe it is achievable. Each PCT has embarked on a number of initiatives, which have not necessarily delivered the amount of change required. We shall work closely with our partners to ensure that this review will be different."

Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT has to make savings of £9million this year. It started the financial year with a deficit of £12.5million and has identified savings of £3.5million.

The deficit includes £2million which has been brought forward from 2003/04. An investigation by the Audit Commission into the unexpected overspend revealed an incredible lack of financial control within the trust.

Meanwhile, West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is forecasting a deficit this year of £2.5million.