Blandford hospital will not close bosses tell petitioners (From Bournemouth Echo)

Blandford hospital will not close bosses tell petitioners

9:00am Thursday 29th July 2010 in

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health chiefs have ruled out closing Blandford Community Hospital days after a petition demanding top level scrutiny of cuts was presented to Parliament.

Some 800 signatures gathered by two Blandford residents were presented to the House of Commons by North Dorset MP Bob Walter on Monday, following the closure of the hospital’s 22 bed Portman ward.

But health bosses insist the closure has been made in a drive to improve privacy and dignity for patients, despite a high-profile campaign by the hospital’s “friends” group of supporters to keep it open.

Jacqueline Stayt, who with Josephine Seath, collected the signatures in a private capacity as Blandford residents, said the aim was to put pressure on NHS Dorset.

“My concern when I started the petition with Mrs Seath was the closure of the ward. I was concerned that this would take place,” said Mrs Stayt.

A statement issued in May by the Friends of Blandford Community Hospital said they were “very much opposed” to the closure, describing the ward as its “historic foundation” and “a very strong asset”.

North Dorset MP, Bob Walter, who presented the petition to the speaker of the House of Commons, said he was concerned that the hospital’s facilities were not being used to their full potential.

He said he understood that white paper proposals for the health service could see NHS Dorset relinquish responsibility for Blandford Hospital next year.

A spokesman for NHS Dorset said: “There has been no reduction in levels of service to patients and no staff have been made redundant as a result of the move.

“There are no plans to close Blandford Hospital and we will continue to work with the friends of the hospital to ensure we meet the needs of the local community”.

Trust bosses are working on a joint feasibility study with the friends, in which the operating theatre could be modernised and relocated within the building.

“When complete, the results of the study along with any development plans will be conveyed to the friends of the hospital and put on display within the hospital for public information,” the spokesman said.