“WE are feeling very sad and anxious.”

That is the message from patients in the west of the county after health bosses have revealed recommendations for a radical shake-up of healthcare services.

Maggie Hardy, chair of Friends of Wareham Hospital which is set to lose its 16 beds to become a community care hub, has spoken of residents’ concerns.

Health bosses recommend closing Poole A&E, maternity and paediatric unit to create a planned care centre with a 24/7 urgent care centre. Instead, Royal Bournemouth Hospital is set to become the major emergency hub for the east of the county. Dorset County Hospital will remain an emergency and planned care site and another public consultation will later determine how maternity and paediatrics care is provided for the west.

Maggie said: “I understand the rationale but it is a long way for people from Swanage and Wareham to get to RBH for significant emergency services. The main word is anxious.

“People in Purbeck are very anxious about both travel and response times, particularly in summer. As a mum of twins I would have been really petrified about going all the way to RBH.”

The plans, which aim to plug a projected funding shortfall of £158m, include changes to community hospitals across the county which include a reduction of beds at Swanage Hospital, the loss of beds at Wareham Hospital and the closure of St Leonards Hospital. Maggie added: “My committee are feeling very sad. We have campaigned hard to increase the profile of Wareham Hospital.

“The CCG said beds will be purchased in nursing homes but seeing as there aren’t any nursing homes in Wareham, we feel it’s an empty promise.

“This is a huge disappointment from staff who are absolutely devastated. We feel in Purbeck we are at the end of a cul-de-sac and we do not want to lose services.

“We do support the concept of the new hub which will bring health and social care together so going forward our focus is on that.”

Dorset CCG’s Dr Forbes Watson said patients will be able to access emergency care within an hour from anywhere in the county.

He said: “We fully understand the concern of the public. We looked very closely at the travel times and worked very closely with the ambulance trust and they have offered us absolute assurance that they can continue to deliver a safe service for patients with these changes.”