A MAJOR review of hospital services is now under way with two Wiltshire care trusts putting the services they provide under close scrutiny.

Both West Wiltshire and Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts will officially launch the review at their board meetings next month when a report outlining the project and how the public can become involved will be published.

Under the microscope will be patient needs, fair use of resources, services provided by district general hospitals, partnership with health and social care services and home care. The trust boards will then decide the way forward in March or early April.

Phil Day, director of strategic change for the trusts, said: "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."

Health chiefs are promising more involvement with communities with the creation of five project groups looking at healthcare provision in each west Wiltshire town. The groups, which involve councillors, health professionals and patient representatives, will report back to the PCT with their findings.