A six-month “community hub” pilot in Marlow has been extended.

Healthcare bosses were trailing the new hub at Marlow’s hospital, in Victoria Road, and Thames Hospital, following a public consultation.

Bosses say the extension will help them to “mobilise a greater range of services, increase referrals to existing services and assess the impact of referrals over the winter months”.

Bucks Healthcare Trust invested £1 million last year in a bid to bring care closer to people’s homes, launching the community hubs at the two hospitals.

New services at the hub include outpatient clinics such as orthopaedics, falls and bones, general surgery and chemotherapy, as well as a community assessment and treatment service.

Care is provided by a geriatrician, nurse, GP, occupational therapist and physiotherapist, and home visits can also be arranged.

A series of “public engagement sessions” are set to be held across the county to let people know how the pilot is progressing and explore how the model could work elsewhere around Bucks.

Speaking at a meeting this week, Marlow Community Forum members said the hub was designed to keep major hospitals less busy, with patients going there to get x-rays, blood tests and other assessments.

Cllr Suzanne Brown, who manages Marlow Age Concern, said: “When we went to the original opening for this, they were saying it was supposed to be for respite.

“Instead of going to Wycombe to be assessed with whatever your problem was, you could go to Marlow

“That’s how it was sold to us. It was trying to get people to stop clogging up the hospitals and doing the assessments locally.”

A trust spokesman said: “We will be returning to the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee with our wider proposals in April.”

Those wanting to find out more can go along to Liston Hall on February 1 between 2-4pm.

To reserve a place, contact Dee Irvin at dee.irvin@buckshealthcare.nhs.uk or call 01494 734149.