A STEERING board of GPs will keep patient care at Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals on track, staff decided in crisis talks this week.

Representatives from front-line services at the hospital met with commissioners for the second time in a month last Thursday to discuss the provision of care for patients.

In the first meeting on February 14, a list of 12 key action points to continually improve patient care were decided upon, and these were discussed in detail during the second gathering.

Later this month, the list will go before a meeting of all healthcare chief executives in Dorset.

Plans to appoint the steering board to check on progress were also agreed on.

Helen Lingham, Chief Operating Officer at RCBH, said: “We had an excellent discussion around what needs changing in the system to better support the emergency and urgent care needs of our population.

“There was a clear acknowledgement that we have to manage the system differently in order to retain high quality care under increasing demand.”

She said the only way to push forward is for both hospitals to accept joint responsibility for the challenges ahead.

During the talks, the group discussed priorities for patient care and how they could be implemented.

Changes needed in the care of the frail, elderly and those with dementia were considered.

Jane Pike, Director of Acute and Primary Care Service Improvement for the NHS in Dorset, said: “Following the success of previous meetings we are pleased with how discussions around emergency care across the country are developing, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners.”