A FULL evaluation of the existing Devizes Hospital site will be undertaken as part of the proposals to replace the hospital.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which runs the hospital, has been consulting people about its proposals to sell off the existing hospital site, in Commercial Road, and build a new hospital on land in Green Lane.

Some people have expressed disquiet that the trust has ruled out extending and building on the hospital site, and a petition signed by 1,288 people, calling for the hospital to remain there was presented to the trust at a public meeting last month.

The trust will now draw up an outline business case which will look at building a new hospital at Green Lane, as well as looking at what the existing site could offer.

A spokesman for the primary care trust said: "No decisions have been made and the feasibility work we will be doing will look at the costings of both sites and their fitness for the purpose of being a hospital."

The outline business case will be submitted to the strategic health authority by December.

The spokesman said: "We have to show the health authority we have properly and thoroughly explored all the options available."