The Wantage hospital will be run by the new-style Vale and West Primary Care Trust (PCT) from next year.

And members of the community are being asked to apply to sit on the board, which will determine how its budget is spent and what services are provided.

The future of community hospitals such as Wantage will be more secure as residents, GPs and healthcare professionals decide how best to make use of them. Existing funding levels will apply and no redundancies are expected.

Residents will be asked for their views on the new trusts, and to comment on the dissolution of the Oxfordshire Community Health NHS Trust in a series of public meetings.

Call 01865 226627 for an information pack.