I THINK it is outrageous that Poole and Bournemouth hospitals have to go through this needless and expensive clinical services review to produce a lesser service for one or the other in what they already do best at this moment.

Poole Hospital’s A&E serves this conurbation for miles going west as far out as Weymouth, with Royal Bournemouth’s A&E very often dealing with emergencies going miles to the eastas far out as Lymington.

There is no doubt the proposed cutback would not be in the interests of Poole or Bournemouth – it is bad enough as it is to have to travel the traffic congested route for any reason, let alone for emergencies, including eye problems, at the RBH.

Poole Hospital has always been the pioneering hospital since opening many years ago and has always proved to be the best for the more serious A&E admissions. Anyone who has noted in this paper over the years the accidents around the Bournemouth area – most don’t end up in RBH, they end up in Poole A&E.

Chief executive Debbie Fleming is right to point out the supreme service and assets of which I’m sure most people are aware.

There is no doubt Poole and Bournemouth hospitals serve two different areas with some overlap of services.

We don’t want Poole hospital to be downgraded – it should be left for each hospital to continue an improve services as they have always done over the years. There is no valid reason to asset strip one for the other.

MIKE HUNTLEY

Reuben Drive, Poole

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