THREE community hospitals could be closed as part of Dorset's ongoing Clinical Services Review.

Alderney, St Leonards and Westhaven hospitals, in Poole, Ferndown and Weymouth respectively, have been recommended for closure by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The group said the three sites were less accessible than other community hospitals and would require greater investment to upgrade.

The latest proposals, announced this week, would see cash made through the move go towards the estimated £20 million cost of improving the rest of the county's community health services.

CCG chairman Forbes Watson said the planned "new model of care" would see a significant increase in the range of services available at community sites, and that health and social care staff would work "much more closely together".

"Patients often don't understand the boundaries in the health and social care system, and why would they," he said.

"Our feedback is that people absolutely want more services closer to home, they want them to be joined up - not just in terms of care but IT and back office work, where appropriate, as well."

He said the proposals, due to be discussed by CCG governors next week, would deliver seven-day services "closer to home for the people of Dorset, in a system we think will be fit for the future".

Overall, the CCG's recommendations would see a net increase of 69 community beds in Dorset, taking the total to 416.

The county's remaining community hospitals would become 'community hubs', open seven days a week. Of these, Swanage, Blandford, Sherborne, Weymouth and Bridport would have beds, while Christchurch, Wareham, Shaftesbury and Portland would not.

Dr Watson said these latter areas would have beds provided in care homes.

Community beds would also be available at whichever of the county's acute services - Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals - is chosen as the county's major planned care site.

The CCG said its proposals would allow the great majority of Dorset residents to reach a bedded site within half an hour by car and within one hour by public transport.

Dr Watson said the plans would relieve pressure on the acute trusts, as the sites will be upgraded with more services available.

"This will deliver 100,000 outpatient appointments closer to home each year, patients currently going to one of the acute sites," he said.

"We believe the proposals can reduce the number of unplanned admissions to acute hospitals by 10,000 per year.

"Many of these patients are elderly people with chronic conditions who can be safely managed in the community."

The community healthcare plans, along with the existing acute service proposals already announced, are currently being considered by NHS England.

The full review will be presented to the public in a consultation this autumn.

Fiona Haughey, Director of Nursing for Dorset HealthCare, said: “We absolutely support the ambition to create integrated community hubs.

"More and more services can be provided outside of hospital and we fundamentally believe that care closer to home, in the community, gives us the best opportunity to improve services and patient outcomes.

“We have supported Dorset CCG throughout the development of these proposals and they build on the work we have already done to work more closely with local GP practices and other partners.

“The proposals present implications for a number of our community hospitals and we will consider carefully the emerging detail.

"Ultimately we will have greater clarity about the function and purpose of each of the community hospitals and how they fit in to the wider range of integrated community services.  This will make sure they are in the best position to serve their local communities.

“Dorset HealthCare will be a formal respondent to the consultation and we will be encouraging all of our employees to play a key role in forming our response.  We will be listening closely to what they have to say over the coming months.

“I am immensely proud of our teams and the services they provide, which are an integral part of local communities. There are already many excellent examples of integrated community services best meeting the needs of individual people.

“There is a very positive future for the development of integrated community services in Dorset and we are absolutely committed to shaping and being a part of that future.”

THE Clinical Services Review was launched in a bid to correct 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.

Back in May, the group announced its recommendation that the Royal Bournemouth Hospital become a major emergency hub for the county, and Poole Hospital a major planned care site.

CCG chairman Forbes Watson said the uncertain future resulting from the EU referendum vote for Brexit had not affected current plans.

"We are very much being told at the moment that this is business as usual," he said.

"There is nothing to say our direction of travel is wrong, in fact there is increasing support from those higher up the chain in the NHS."