THE Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBCH) has been picked as the “preferred” location for the county’s principal accident and emergency centre, the Daily Echo understands.

Both RBCH and Poole Hospital are in contention to be redeveloped to take around 80 per cent of the county’s A&E patients as part of the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Clinical Services Review.

The other trust would become a ‘planned care site’ with only a limited A&E service provided.

Papers due to be published today will reveal the CCG’s preferred option, which, according to a source, will see Bournemouth recommended as the main emergency site.

The CCG has declined to confirm the information.

Chairman Dr Forbes Watson said: “The proposal which will be considered by the Governing Body of NHS Dorset CCG on May 18 will outline which of the current acute hospital sites in the east of the county will be the CCG’s preferred site for the Major Emergency Care Hospital and which would be the preferred site for the Major Planned Care Hospital.

“During the meeting the Governing Body will make a decision on whether they approve this as the preferred option which will then proceed to the NHS England assurance process and – once this has been completed - public consultation.”

He added: “These proposals are the result of ongoing engagement with local clinicians and it is important for people to understand that at this stage nothing will be decided until after views have been gathered during the public consultation.”

At present, the public consultation is not expected to take place until the autumn.

The management at both RBCH and Poole have expressed a desire for their trust to be selected as the emergency care site.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last year RBCH chief executive Tony Spotswood claimed Bournemouth was best placed as it would be “much cheaper” and “more straightforward” to redevelop than Poole.

Poole Hospital has argued that the cost redeveloping its site in Longfleet Road would be offset by long term savings, and that its location is better for A&E patients travelling from the west of the county.

If Bournemouth is selected the process could see Poole Hospital’s obstetrics (childbirth), neonatology and inpatient paediatric services relocated to RBCH.

Bournemouth’s accident and emergency department, emergency medical and surgical and inpatient haematology services would be significantly expanded.

The Clinical Services Review was launched in the context of the deteriorating financial position of NHS services in Dorset.

Without structural changes, the CCG says, these services face a funding shortfall of £200 million by 2021. Hospital trusts are operating with budget deficits and are also facing problems recruiting enough staff at all levels.

The CCG says having a single major emergency care site will free up other trust A&E departments to focus only on more serious cases, and would see medical staff moving between the site and other departments to share expertise and cover shifts.