A DORSET health watchdog is set to focus on scrutinising the county’s ongoing review of clinical services – after receiving feedback from more than 5,000 patients in the last year.

Healthwatch Dorset, which is headquartered in Pokesdown, Bournemouth, launched its annual review last week alongside a video documenting its recent achievements.

At the event, held at the Lighthouse theatre in Poole, there was a discussion about what people would like to see from the forthcoming public consultation to be held by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.

The proposals are set to see one of Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital designated the county’s main planned care hospital with the other becoming a major emergency centre. The proposals from the review are expected to be implemented in the next three to five years.

And manager of Healthwatch Dorset Martyn Webster said his watchdog has an important role to play.

‘We intend to keep up the momentum,” he said. “With our 250 volunteers in local communities all across the county, we’re uniquely placed to feed information back to the decision makers about the real concerns and needs of actual and potential users of our health and social care services.

“Our volunteers act as our eyes and ears on the ground, keeping us in touch with what local people really feel. It is they who make the difference and give us the power to influence.”

Joyce Guest, chair of Healthwatch Dorset, said: “In the last year, we’ve listened to the views of more than 5,000 people about their health and care services. Our annual review is a snapshot of the work and achievements of our hardworking and dedicated team of staff and volunteers. We are looking forward to achieving even more in the year ahead.”

For more information about volunteering with Healthwatch Dorset, call 0300 1110102, email enquiries@healthwatchdorset.co.uk or visit healthwatchdorset.co.uk.