THE job of a Wiltshire group set up to ensure local people are at the heart of decision making on health matters has been moved out of the county following a new round of tendering by Wiltshire Council.

Healthwatch Wiltshire is to be run by Help & Care in Bournemouth instead of Melksham based Evolving Communities, which has run the watchdog group for the past five years.

It has expressed disappointment at losing the contract for Healthcare Wiltshire which is described by Wiltshire Council as: "The county’s independent health and care champion which exists to ensure people are at the heart of decision-making about local health and care services."

Chris Graves chairman of Evolving Communities said: "Over the last five years we’ve received a very positive welcome, since the establishment of the Healthwatch service in Wiltshire. We have enjoyed a productive relationship with partners that has produced some really innovative outcomes for the people of Wiltshire.

“Most of all we have been amazed by the commitment and support given to us by our dedicated team of volunteers and we hope they will continue to support the Healthwatch vision."

Evolving communities new chief executive Mary Curran said: "Whilst disappointed with the loss of our Wiltshire contract, I am delighted to have joined Evolving Communities and am now focused on delivering a first class Healthwatch service in Somerset and Gloucestershire.

The current Healthwatch Wiltshire staff will be entitled to transfer over to the new service should they wish to do so.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: "Help and Care which already has Healthwatch contracts across the south west.

The council has also given a new contract to the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living and it will run the Service User Engagement service. It will work with adult care and health service users, stakeholders, council officers and the clinical commissions group to produce a range of adult care and health services.

That includes supporting many service user groups, such the Learning Disability Forum, Autism Forum and Learning Disability and Autism Partnership Board. It will also run customer representative groups for all users of adult care and health services.

Both contracts were awarded for three years to run from June 1, 2018 with an option to extend for a further two years.

Jerry Wickham, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for public health, said: “We look forward to working with our partners in the coming years in providing the best possible services for the people of the county.”