HEALTH boss Carol Clarke failed to give assurances about Devizes Hospital when she was quizzed at the annual meeting of DASH2 (Devizes Action To Save Our Hospital).

She said that the major review of health services going on in Kennet, North and West Wiltshire could result in some areas losing existing services.

She told the meeting, which was attended by 24 people: "There will be difficult choices because some people will not have what they have always had close to them as before.

"But it will probably mean that some people will get services faster and have access to a greater range of services.

"There does seem to be this slightly disproportionate view that most of the care received by people is in community hospitals but that is not the case.

"It's not the estate that delivers health care, it's services, but our estate is currently dictating how services are delivered and that can't be right."

Mrs Clarke, chief executive of the Kennet and North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts, acknowledged that Devizes was a fast growing town and there were concerns about public transport.

She instigated the review shortly after taking up her position.

However, she said she would have instigated the review even if both trusts were not in financial crisis because she said the health service locally needed to modernise.

A series of large scale meetings of stakeholders is being held throughout the year.

The proposals for changes to health services will be published early next year.

Mrs Clarke said the trusts would be releasing information shortly about what services the community hospitals provide and the number of patients that use them.