MORE than 50,000 people have already signed two petitions in a bid to safeguard the future of Poole Hospital’s A&E trauma unit.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBCH) had been named as the ‘preferred location’ for Dorset’s main A&E centre, as part of a proposed countywide shake-up.

Under the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Clinical Services Review, Poole Hospital would become a ‘planned care site’ with only a limited A&E service provided - all major emergencies would go to Bournemouth.

NHS bosses are considering making The Royal Bournemouth the primary emergency care centre in a bid to cut costs.

As part of the review, both RBCH and Poole Hospital are in contention to be redeveloped to take around 80 per cent of the county’s A&E patients.

Residents are being urged to sign an online ‘Don’t close Poole Hospital’s A&E or Bournemouth Hospital’s A&E’ e-Government petition, which has attracted 43,194 supporters since its creation on Monday. This number continued to grow as the Echo went to press.

Meanwhile, Poole resident Sean Perrin started a second petition, already backed by more than 8,000 people, to save Poole Hospital’s A&E.

Mr Perrin told the Daily Echo: “I have got a young family, I’ve got vulnerable family, I’ve lived in Poole for 45 years. I know the impact this will have. We simply don’t have the infrastructure between Poole and Bournemouth to make this work.

“Were always hearing about traffic problems between the towns. Even Bournemouth residents don’t think this will work.

“We know the NHS is very short-funded, but there must be other ways of looking at this. I just think it will cost lives if they go ahead with this. We won’t simply sit back and let this happen, we will fight to the bitter end.”

If Bournemouth is selected it could mean Poole Hospital’s obstetrics (childbirth), neonatal and in-patient paediatric services are also switched to RBCH.

Without structural changes, the CCG says, services face a funding shortfall of £200 million by 2021.

At 10,000 signatures the government is duty bound to officially respond to the e-Government petition, and if the numbers reach 100,000 the issue will be considered for Parliamentary debate.

Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust medical director Robert Talbot said: “We are clear about the need for change in Dorset’s health system and have made a full and active contribution to the clinical services review.”

However, he said Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s designation as east Dorset’s unit for emergency and trauma surgery did place Poole “in an extremely strong position.”

He added: “While disappointed with the clinical commissioning group’s recommendation, and whatever the final outcome, we are confident of a bright and positive future, and will work hard to preserve and build on the high standards and unique philosophy of care that we provide day in, day out to our patients and their families.”

The A&E recommendations will be considered at a May 18 meeting, with a final decision expected next year.