APPEAL Court judges have rejected a legal bid to challenge the proposed downgrading of Poole Hospital's A&E department and maternity facility.

Campaigners from Defend Dorset NHS attended the Royal Courts of Justice in London to hear the bid by complainant Anna Hinsull, into whether she could appeal the decision of Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group to approve a merger of Poole and Royal Bournemouth hospitals.

Ms Hinsull was supported by the Defend Dorset NHS group who are concerned about the proposals which will see East Dorset's major emergency department moved to Bournemouth, with Poole's A&E becoming an Urgent Treatment Centre.

Ms Hinsull also wanted to ask permission from the Appeal Court judges to rely on fresh evidence, should her appeal be allowed.

However, the initial bid failed, with judges saying they would give their full finding later.

Campaigner Debby Monkhouse said the group was 'gutted' and found the decision hard to understand but would continue to prepare their statement for the Independent Panel which will consider aspects of the proposed merger.

Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group said: "We hope that the decision reached in the Court of Appeal today will reassure people that we acted properly in reaching the decisions which will see improved services for people living in and around Dorset.

"During 2018 the High Court dismissed all claims brought as part of the judicial review which was a right and proper process but involved considerable cost to the publicly-funded NHS. We are pleased that the court has upheld this judgement.

"The decision will now allow the planned improvements to health and care services in Dorset to be implemented without unnecessary delay or additional legal costs."

It said the plan would allow a £147million investment in acute hospital services to go ahead, along with more services provided closer to people’s homes, reduced waiting times for around 6,000 patients requiring planned care and new ways of working for NHS and social care staff that will "make best use of their skills and provide better care for local people".