A HOSPITAL trust has had “huge success” in finding savings, according to its boss, who has pledged that Christchurch Hospital would not be sold off to raise cash.

Tony Spotswood was questioned by residents over the future of health services in Bournemouth and Christchurch at the latest trust meeting.

The chief executive said that the trust was doing well in identifying efficiency savings.

He added: “You can’t achieve £30million of savings and everything remains the same but importantly the services we have will remain of the highest quality.”

The meeting to discuss the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s proposals outlined in its draft annual plan for 2011/12 heard that the trust had a low incidence for MRSA, with 16 months since the last case.

And there was “very little disruption from norovirus” over the winter, added Mr Spotswood.

The meeting heard that from October there would be a new combined stroke unit based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Mr Spotswood added: “Clinical evidence shows that patients do better if cared for in one hospital setting rather than being moved in the rehabilitation stage.” He referred to the two options proposed for Christchurch Hospital and said that the trust preferred current services being secured at Christchurch and an older people’s health village created.

Mr Spotswood dismissed fears that the Christchurch Hospital site might be sold off to raise revenue for the trust.

It would cost more to re-site services at Bournemouth he said.