People in Wiltshire who suffer life-threatening injuries will be treated at hospitals in Bristol or Plymouth.
The South West Strategic Health Authority proposes to designate Frenchay Hospital in Bristol and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth as major trauma centres.
The hospitals already provide high- end complex care, but the arrangement will be formalised as the Department of Health has asked all Strategic Health Authorities to set up regional networks of trauma care with one or two hospitals to deal with around 1,000 cases of major trauma each year.
Major trauma is considered to be serious and often multiple injuries that could cause death or serious disability.
Some Wiltshire patients will go to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, which is aiming to become a major trauma centre in the neighbouring Strategic Health Authority area and Salisbury District Hospital will continue to provide specialist burns services.
The Strategic Health Authority said accident and emergency services would remain unchanged.
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