SAVERNAKE Hospital is to play a major role in a reorganised health service, according to plans unveiled this week.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which has carried out a review of services in order to find savings of £10 million, is proposing to expand services at the hospital.

The blueprint proposes that Savernake offers hi-tech telemedicine links to consultants at district general hospitals and the expansion of its minor injuries unit .

But while Savernake's role will expand, the trust is planning to close community hospitals in Devizes and Malmesbury. The fate of the two town's maternity units will not be announced until July.

A scheme for a replacement £10 million hospital at Savernake is well under way with the possibility of a start on building this summer with completion late next year.

It's already planned that the new hospital, which it is proposed to build under a private finance initiative, will have a 34-bed intermediate care unit.

The new report from the trust shows specialist services being developed at one hospital in the east of its district and one in the west, at Savernake and at Chippenham.

The report states: "The model (proposals) focuses on providing specialist in-patient services mainly in Chippenham and Savernake and general nursing beds as part of a nursing home partnership, partly supported by NHS teams."

The blueprint for future medical services at Savernake includes hi-tech telemedicine links directly to the Great Western Hospital, in Swindon, and other general hospitals. This would enable consultants to look at patients and their X-rays from miles away and help with diagnosis and treatment.

Ultrasound services would be introduced at Savernake, while its X-ray unit would continue, and the plans show theatre facilities for minor surgery, a service that had been discontinued at the hospital.

The trust is proposing to make Savernake's much praised minor injuries unit, which opens from 8am to 10pm, even better by making it a 24 hour a day service.

Care for the elderly is very much part of the trust's proposals.

The town's only council-run nursing home, Coombe End House, is overdue for replacement because it no longer conforms to modern care standards.

The trust, working with Social Services, wants to see Coombe End House redeveloped "as part of a virtual care village".

It is envisaged that Coombe End would remain on its London Road site, but would share with the 36-bed intermediate care unit planned for Savernake the role of providing half-way care between a hospital bed and the patient being well enough to return home.

Mayor Margaret Boulton yesterday gave a cautious welcome to the trust's blueprint.

She said: "We must hold our breath but it would be wonderful if it happened.

"I think that the ideas being discussed are brilliant and would be great news for Marlborough but remember there is many a slip twixt cup and lip."

Kennet District Council leader Chris Humphries, who represents Aldbourne which is in the Savernake Hospital catchment area, has had private talks with trust leaders. He said: "I was encouraged by the trust's response to my arguments. I pressed the need for intermediate care beds, a primary care emergency centre, a minor injuries unit and a day hospital service."