18.02.19
Protestors surround hospital to save it from closure following major reshuffle of Dorset NHS services
Around 200 campaigners formed a human chain around a community hospital in a protest against the loss of beds and a potential closure as part of a major reorganisation of NHS services in the area.
Portland Hospital in Dorset was surrounded by angry residents, protesting against the closure of 16 beds at the unit, the latest in an ongoing dispute over major local reform plans which have been referred to the government by local authorities.
Portland lost the beds in August last year as it faced staff shortages and a funding deficit, and they were moved to Westhaven Hospital in Weymouth.
NHS Dorset CCG said it was carrying out the reorganisation of hospital services as it faced a £158m funding shortfall every year from 2021, and Dorset Healthcare said it was now looking to develop the Portland site into a health and wellbeing community hub.
Critics have expressed concerns over the loss of local services, and in late 2018 Dorset County Council referred the overall plans to Matt Hancock over concerns about increased patient travel times and the role of community hospitals.
Protestors in Dorset want to save the Portland hospital and bring back the beds, and at the rally one campaigner, Philip Marfleet, said: “It's clear that people on Portland feel extremely strongly about keeping the hospital.
“The hospital is vital to the island community. This demonstration is to show that people are coming from all over Portland, Weymouth and Dorchester to show that this is a vital resource for healthcare in the area.”
If the Portland Hospital, which offers sexual health, speech and language therapy, podiatry, and occupational therapy closes then many would have to travel Weymouth and the Fairfield Day Centre site would also be at risk.
Lynne Hubbard, who has worked for the NHS for 30 years, told the Dorset Echo: “I think people on Portland have done a fantastic job so far in keeping the hospital.
“We've been to a lot of consultations and I think the chief executive has been surprised by the response, I think they thought we would all go away.”
The changes to Portland Hospital are part of the major reform of hospital services which will see Poole lose its A&E services and its maternity services transferred to Bournemouth.
But Tim Goodson of Dorset CCG, which initiated the shake-up, said he was “disappointed” by the actions of protestors and councils and said his plans were “open to further scrutiny.”