THE NHS organisation leading the merger plans for Poole and Bournemouth hospitals has launched a new campaign at the instigation of partner groups to 'reassure the public' about the controversial move ahead of the local elections.

Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, whose Integrated Care System plans have met with stiff opposition from a number of groups within the county, want to tell patients and potential councillors about the 'positive' proposals for the Poole site.

Campaign groups have derided the plans, saying the downgrading of Poole's A&E and its maternity services could cost lives.

Chief Officer of NHS Dorset CCG, Tim Goodson, said he was speaking on behalf of 'local NHS partners'.

“The initiative that was launched earlier this month was done so by local NHS partners who wanted to address concerns that have been raised by some people about the future of urgent care in the county," he said.

"The aim is to reassure people that in the future, urgent care services will be available at all three acute hospitals. More specifically it aims to inform local people what will be available at Poole Hospital when it becomes the Major Planned Hospital."

In a statement on its website, the CCG said: "The first phase of the campaign highlights what will be provided in the Urgent Treatment Centre at the hospital when it becomes the major planned hospital in 2023/24. Future themes will cover maternity, paediatrics and other major clinical services affected by the changes."

The CCG will then place posters with the key information across the hospital as well as sending them out to local authority councillors and leaders as 'helpful information to share with their residents during the forthcoming local elections'.

The CCG said the work had been done in-house with only a small amount of money spent on printing.

News of the initiative comes just a week after the joint CEO of Poole and Bournemouth hospitals, Debbie Fleming, warned Defend Dorset NHS, which opposes the merger, that: “By focusing on the negatives, all we do is create more problems in recruiting and retaining staff. Our workforce challenges are currently a greater concern to me than the financial pressures,” she said.

*For more information about the changes visit dorsetsvision.nhs.uk.