PATIENTS in Westbury will have to wait at least another three months before the town's stroke unit reopens, health bosses have admitted.
The unit, which is based at Westbury Community Hospital, closed temporarily on January 2 because West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust was unable to find a replacement clinical assistant. The part-time position was then advertised nationally after the PCT failed to recruit a local specialist.
Three potential candidates are being interviewed for the post today and the PCT was hopeful of making an appointment next week. But even if this proves the case the unit will not reopen until the summer at the earliest.
Speaking at a public meeting in Westbury on Thursday, director of services Hilary Fairfield said: "If we are able to find someone it will still be three months before we get them in place. If we were not able to recruit a doctor in Westbury we would have to move the service elsewhere as a last resort."
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