THE Friends of St Leonards Hospital has said they will “never give up” in the fight to stop the hospital from closing.

Last week it was revealed that Alderney, St Leonards and Westhaven hospitals, in Poole, Ferndown and Weymouth respectively, have been recommended for closure by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

At the time the chairman of the Friends expressed her fury that members only learned about the closure plans via Facebook.

But it has now been revealed that some members of staff were also kept in the dark and also only learned about the plans after seeing it in the Echo or on social media.

A spokesman from Dorset HealthCare said:“We regret that some of our staff heard about these plans through social media and other channels. We informed staff as soon as the information was made public on Wednesday morning but accept that this may have taken a bit longer to cascade.

“It is important to stress that nothing has been decided.

“A formal consultation will take place over a three-month period starting in the autumn.

“Our staff will play a vital role in helping to shape the Trust’s response to the proposals, and we are planning a series of meetings where they can present their views.”

Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Friends yesterday, chairman Jacqueline Moss said: “We will never give up trying to stop this proposals from going ahead.

“This hospital cannot close it is just too important for our community.”

The CCG has said the three sites, including St Leonards, were less accessible than other community hospitals and would require greater investment to upgrade.

The proposals would see cash made through the move go towards the estimated £20 million cost of improving the rest of the county’s community health services.

But Mrs Moss believes selling the hospital land will not be that easy because of a covenant which says there must always be a hospital on the site.

The Friends are now issuing a call to arms for volunteers to help save the hospital. Anyone interested should email friendsofstleonards@gmail.com or call 07811467360.