Health shake-up: 'Why won't longer travel times compromise patient safety?'

That’s the question a health watchdog wants to ask those responsible for the biggest shake-up of healthcare in a generation.

As previously reported, NHS Dorset CCG’s recommendations would see the closure of Poole A&E, maternity and paediatrics units to make RBH the major emergency hub for the east of the county. Poole Hospital would become a planned care hub with an urgent care centre.

Dorset CCG say patients will get better care with more specialists in one place and they believe 65 lives a year will be saved as a result.

However opponents, particularly those who live in Purbeck, say that is irrelevant if they cannot get emergency care in time due to travel times.

Martyn Webster, manager of Healthwatch Dorset, said: “Some of the greatest concerns local people have expressed about the proposals are around transport and travel times. People understand that, particularly in the case of some very serious health conditions, better care can be given if it's provided in a centralised, specialist centre. But that's going to be of no use if people can't get there, or can't get there in time.

“The Ambulance Trust has recently issued a report saying they believe that patient safety won't be compromised as a result of the proposals, so far as people travelling in ambulances are concerned. But that still leaves genuine concern for people who need urgent or emergency care and who, for whatever reason, don't have the option of using an ambulance.

“Planning the future of NHS services has to be based on the reality of people’s lives and experiences as well as on clinical data, and many people's experience leads them to believe that travel times are longer than the data the NHS is quoting. We're looking to Dorset CCG to take people's concerns seriously and explain why they believe that longer travel times wouldn't compromise patient safety."

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

Final decisions will be made at the Dorset CCG Governing Body meeting on Wednesday from 10am at the Conference Hall at the Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, where campaigners are planning to protest.