A decision to have 20 specialist hospital dementia care beds in Salisbury, despite hopes of more beds in Devizes, Trowbridge or Westbury, has been made by Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The beds will provide short term hospital care for those people suffering with the most severe form of dementia, which in Wiltshire affects around 120 people a year, and who require a short period of treatment in a hospital setting.

Consultation carried out by independent Healthwatch Wiltshire took into account the views and opinions of people with dementia, their carers, residents, volunteers, community groups and professionals around the county, said a spokesman for Wiltshire CCG.

Nearly three quarters -  71% - of those consulted were in favour of continuing to provide specialist hospital dementia care from Amblescroft South, Salisbury, the current temporary location of specialist hospital dementia care in Wiltshire.

Deborah Fielding, chief officer of Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Dementia is a real and growing issue for the UK, which is why it’s so important that we get it right here in Wiltshire.

“We reviewed in detail all three of the proposed locations for specialist dementia care in Wiltshire against criteria which included, quality and continuity of service, proximity to an acute hospital, capital costs and the investment opportunity of surplus funds into enhancing dementia support across the county.

"This review, in conjunction with the views and thoughts contained in Healthwatch Wiltshire’s report led us to the conclusion that Amblescroft South, Fountain Way in Salisbury would be the most effective and efficient location for Wiltshire’s specialist hospital dementia care.

“Throughout the consultation process we have worked closely with our colleagues at Wiltshire Council and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust, who provide our dementia services in Wiltshire, to find the best solution which supports our joint seven year Dementia Care Strategy, whilst working within the constraints of the funding we have available.”

There are no planned changes to how the unit in Amblescroft South currently operates, patients will continue to receive high level specialist care for a short period of time whilst in crisis before being able to return to a community setting.

The three viable sites under consideration were Charter House in Trowbridge, Green Lane Hospital in Devizes and Amblescroft South, Fountain Way in Salisbury.

Local campaigners, supported by South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison, were also calling for more dementia beds in Westbury saying that it would take a round-trip of three hours by bus to visit relatives in Salisbury.

The report compiled by Healthwatch Wiltshire can be found at www.healthwatchwiltshire.co.uk and further information about each of the proposed options as well as information presented to Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s Governing Body on Tuesday are at www.wiltshireccg.nhs.uk

Specialist dementia care beds for Wiltshire patients are also available in St Martin’s in Bath and the Victoria Centre in Swindon.