Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust's debate on Malmesbury and Devizes Community and Maternity Hospitals will now end on 31 May.

The PCT says it will consider the outcome of the consultation at its public meeting on 22 June.

The hospitals are threatened with closure following a review of health care in the region a year ago.

Following the review, it was found only around one in three beds in Devizes and Malmesbury were being used.

Campaigners

The facilities were branded "outdated" by health care managers at the Kennet and North Wiltshire Trust.

But some residents disagree and have launched a campaign to prevent the closures.

The trust also needs to sort out a �10m deficit that could leave it with little option but to shut the units.

The services looked at were provided by West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) for people served by Bath & North East Somerset, Kennet and North Wilts, and Mendip PCTs.

Patients from bordering Cotswold and Vale and Swindon PCTs also use the services.

They are provided in the Royal United Hospital at Bath, and community hospitals in Chippenham, Devizes, Trowbridge, Malmesbury, Frome, Paulton and Shepton Mallet.

The consultation process was due to last until 26 April.