CAMPAIGNERS staged a protest at Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group offices in Dorchester to demand more transparency over proposed cuts.

At one stage, protestors became aware that Conservative Parliamentary candidate for West Dorset Oliver Letwin was in a nearby pub and headed there but he made a swift exit.

Dorset Health Campaign and its supporters are demanding answers to their questions surrounding what the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group is planning to cut following a recent consultation.

The consultation is believed to have cost £2.9 million with the CCG saying they cannot release the results due to the pre-election Purdah period.

Protestors though dispute this and claim that if questions are asked by the public they can be answered during the period.

The protest was attended by the likes of Labour Parliamentary candidate Simon Bowkett and Cllr Paul Kimber, Labour leader for Dorset County Council.

One of the supporters of the campaign is Ros Kayes, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset.

She said: “There needs to be full public transparency. What we want is for them to agree to be more open about it.”

The protestors sang and even put on a theatrical performance regarding the cuts outside the premises.

Spokesperson for Dorset Health Campaign, Chris East, then entered the CCG offices to handover a letter addressed to Dr Forbes Watson, chairman of the Clinical Commissioning Group, detailing the questions the group want answered.

Mr East said that people just want to have their voices heard.

He said: “It’s just a matter of putting the message across. They know our message because I asked the question at the CCG board meeting.”

The letter said: “So could we, as members of the public, please ask you to inform us of your provisional decisions on changes to NHS facilities in Dorset.”

Protestors said that they understand the necessity for change but it is the execution they dispute.

John Hartung, from Bridport Unite Community Group, said: “It’s the fact we are not being put in the picture about what is going on. We think they’ve probably made their minds up before public consultation.

“We want transparency for a start, there’s got to be changes but I don’t think this is the way to do it.”

Chair of NHS Dorset CCG Dr Forbes Watson

“Since the launch of the Clinical Services Review in October 2014 we have been completely transparent and open in our approach and holding a number of public meetings across the county, publishing regular updates to both the media and on our dedicated website. As we have stated regularly since the beginning of this process, no decisions have, or will be made until we have gone through a full and thorough public consultation later this year.

We understand that people are passionate about the NHS and their local services and quite rightly so, as we have plenty to be proud of here in Dorset. Over the last five months clinicians, along with input from health and care leaders, patients, carers and the public, have developed a vision for better care for the county.

We would like to reassure people that the review is not about making cuts or privatising services, it is about making sure that everybody in Dorset has access to safe, high quality healthcare which is sustainable and affordable, as well as being fit to meet the changing health needs of the growing population.

Doing nothing is not an option, we know that even with the year on year overall increases in NHS spending which we have seen over recent years, in the next five years we are likely to face a funding gap of up to £200m. Therefore we think it is important to act now to ensure that any additional future increase in NHS spending delivers the best values and outcomes for the people of Dorset.

Claims that we are withholding a ‘plan’ until after the election are inaccurate, to re-iterate no decisions have, or will be made until we have gone through a thorough assurance process and have properly consulted with the people of Dorset. During the election period we are bound by national guidelines which mean we are unable to make any new announcements.

As we approach the public consultation phase, the continued flow of accurate information to local people is a priority and we encourage anyone who would like to keep up to date with what is happening or would like to know a little more about the review to visit dorsetsvision.nhs.uk where there is a wealth of information and evidence already published and this will continue to be updated”.