HEALTH chiefs are planning two separate rounds of public consultation, starting in January, for proposed changes to maternity units and consultant outpatient clinics in Devizes and Malmesbury.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust agreed at a meeting on Tuesday to hold the public consultation which is due to run from January 19 to April 19.

The trust will consult on plans to transfer birthing and postnatal inpatient facilities from Devizes to Trowbridge and from Malmesbury to Chippenham.

It is expected there will be cuts to some outpatient clinics run by consultants from the Royal United Hospital, Bath and the Great Western Hospital, Swindon and this will be the subject of a separate public consultation.

On maternity, trust board member Ken Morrison was disappointed that the consultation document had not yet been produced.

A number of board members and members of the public present questioned the trust's ability to carry out the consultation in the timescale agreed. The trust is due to make a final decision on April 27.

Stephen Golledge, acting joint chief executive of the trust, said if the consultation started later than planned it was a legal requirement for the consultation to be for three months resulting in the final decision being delayed.

The trust could not say this week what consultant outpatient clinics are under threat as managers were in the process of analysing all the proposals but did say the proposals would result in a "significant impact on Malmesbury Hospital."

The RUH wants to change some of its outpatient clinics at community hospitals to enable its consultants to carry out more operations.

From January 5 the RUH plans to increase its operating theatre sessions from two a day to three to reduce waiting lists.

Mr Golledge said: "The RUH wanted to implement the changes to the outpatient clinics from January 5 but we have said there should be public consultation if any major changes are planned.

"Any major changes proposed will not happen at Devizes and Malmesbury until there has been public consultation."

Devizes GP Dr John Heaton-Renshaw said he was stunned to be told by a consultant at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, three weeks ago that consultant led clinics at Devizes were due to end on January 5.

GWH planned to move all its clinics to Savernake Hospital but this is now being reconsidered.

Mr Golledge said senior managers at GWH decided on the changes but did not consult with consultants and GPs and had now backtracked.