KENNET District Council is refusing to endorse the plans by health bosses for Devizes Hospital.

The council said this week that a number of unanswered questions remain about what facilities the proposed new Devizes Hospital at Green Lane will have.

Last month the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust agreed a three year plan to cut £10 million by axing some services at community hospitals and giving more in-home care.

The trust also agreed to work towards providing new hospitals in Devizes or Malmesbury by 2005.

The council's community development executive committee considered a report on Tuesday by independent health care consultancy, the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care, which raised a number of concerns about the trust's plans.

The Welsh Institute believes the new Devizes Hospital needs a 24 hour minor injuries unit, a maternity unit, inpatient rehabilitation beds, beds for terminally ill patients plus other services.

A 24 hour minor injuries unit is not included in the trust's plans and some outpatient clinics will be cut.

The plans for a new hospital, and provision of in-patient beds, will only happen if a nursing home can be built alongside it on the Green Lane site.

The Welsh Institute says in its latest report: "The proposals for Devizes have not changed significantly from those that were set out in the earlier document. As described, they do not commend themselves to the council."

The Institute questions why the Private Finance Initiative approach for the new £10 million Savernake Hospital in Marlborough cannot be used to build a new hospital in Devizes.

The Institute also says the number of in patient beds proposed for Devizes Hospital remains unclear and there needs to be assurances that the differing needs of patients can be met.

The trust needs to fully explain the range of proposed intermediate care to be provided in people's homes by a team of professionals, says the report.

The Institute also says that future provision for people who suffer minor injuries needs to be made clear.

The council will now write to the trust asking for clarification on the issues outlined in the Welsh Institute's report.

Councillor Chris Humphries, chairman of the committee and leader of Kennet District Council, said: "We will continue to press the PCT for the best possible services to provide health care for the residents of Kennet."