A public meeting is to be held in Devizes so people can have their say about plans to expand Green Lane Hospital.

Healthwatch Wiltshire wants to get people’s views on plans to open a specialist dementia unit in Wiltshire. 

It is being paid to do the work by NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) but Healthwatch chief executive Emma Cooper said the consultation exercise would be completely impartial. The group only agreed to take on the contract when a clause giving the commissioning group editorial and publishing control was removed.

She said: “I can reassure people that we are acting as an independent organisation.”

The CCG has come up  with three possible locations: Avebury Ward at Green Lane, Charter House in Trowbridge and Amblescroft South in Salisbury. At the moment the care is provided temporarily at Amblescroft South.

A spokesman for NHS Wiltshire CCG said: “Specialist dementia hospital care is used by those who have advanced dementia at times when they need specialist healthcare. In Wiltshire less than 120 people need these specialist hospital services per year.”

Chris Graves, chairman of Healthwatch Wiltshire, said: “Although only a small number of people need to use these specialist services, we still believe it is important for people to have the chance to put their views forward.

“We therefore welcome the opportunity to be involved in this consultation and would encourage people to get involved.”

The meeting is on January 13, 10am-noon in the Corn Exchange. People can also fill in an online survey at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/dementia strategyconsultation-2 or email Healthwatch Wiltshire at info@healthwatchwiltshire.co.uk or call on (01225) 434218.

A public meeting will also be held on Monday  at The Civic Centre in Trowbridge, 2pm to 4pm and on January 20 at Salisbury Methodist Church, 2pm to 4pm.

Healthwatch Wiltshire will publish a report after the consultation process ends on March 10 next year.