CYSTIC fibrosis patients will no longer be able to access regular specialist care at Poole Hospital under new plans.

The Wessex adult CF service, which is provided by the trust in partnership with University Hospital Southampton, sees a specialist cystic fibrosis consultant based at the hospital.

This is "likely" to be cut in the new year due to "staffing changes", health bosses said, although preparations are being made to minimise the impact on patients.

One anonymous reader contacted the Daily Echo saying: "The CF ward at Poole hospital is closing and all patients will be transferred to Southampton.

"The patients haven't even been told yet. It's disgraceful."

Fiona Dalton, chief executive at University Hospital Southampton, and Debbie Fleming, chief executive at Poole, have released a joint statement.

They said: "The cystic fibrosis (CF) service is currently provided by two hospital trusts - University Hospital Southampton and Poole Hospital – and is supported by a dedicated team who specialise in caring for patients across both sites.

"Due to changes in staffing it is likely that there will not be a specialist CF consultant based at Poole Hospital in the new year.

"In anticipation of this, we are looking at different ways of running the service so that we can continue to provide excellent care for patients living in Dorset and the wider area.

"We understand that this uncertainty may cause some concern to our patients and have written to those affected to reassure them that both hospitals, and our specialist CF clinical teams, will be working together with patients to ensure the on-going delivery of safe high quality care."

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that results in an excessive build-up of mucus, particularly in the lungs and throughout the digestive system, making sufferers much more prone to serious infections and less able to process food.

Patients can end up taking more than 50 tablets a day to help them digest food and keep respiratory symptoms in check, and physiotherapy is often employed in hospitals to ease the symptoms.