FRESH from persuading Dorset councillors to refer major NHS changes - including the downgrading of Poole A&E - back to the government, the Defend Dorset NHS has outlined the next moves in its campaign.

DDNHS has formally asked to be allowed to have a formal input into the submissions which will be made by the Dorset Health Scrutiny Committee about the controversial Clinical Services Review. It has also asked to see a draft of the proposed submission in order to 'input meaningfully' before a submission is made.

The decision to refer the issue back to the government will be a blow to the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, which proposed the CSR to help ease a looming £158 million funding shortfall.

DDNHS spokeswoman, Debby Monkhouse said: "We have raised many concerns with the Clinical Services Review plans, which involve closing 245 acute beds, and closing community hospitals and/or beds at Portland, Wareham, Ferndown, Westhaven and Alderney.

"Most of all we have been extremely concerned about the evidenced risk to life posed by the plans to downgrade Poole A&E, and close Poole Maternity. These changes will not improve health services for residents in the Dorset County Council area, and will not deliver services that are either safe or accessible."

She pointed out that Purbeck District Council, Swanage Town Council, Langton, Corfe and Worth Parish Councils, Portland Town Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council had all written to the Committee to support referral for Independent Review. The Council for Protection of Rural England and over 60 residents had also written in.

In a further statement, DDNHS said the Clinical Commissioning Group's proposals: "Had the effect of moving major emergency hospital services out of reach for most of Dorset's residents.

"The proposal to site the Major Emergency Hospital on the other side of Bournemouth is made even worse by the appalling traffic congestion around, and on access roads to, Bournemouth Hospital," they said.

"If this new road is proposed to relieve some of the congestion around Bournemouth hospital, won't the new jobs congest the new road?"

They also raised concern that the proposed new road could 'compromise the flood plain'

"It seems that the new road, if allowed to go ahead, won't relieve congestion around the Hospital, and if RBH cannot expand, then the Major Emergency Hospital can't be sited there. These are all reasons why A&E and Maternity services at Poole must be retained."