Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Wednesday 25th May 2016

This is a matter for the local NHS. Dorset CCG has stated that they are seeking to secure high quality, sustainable health services that meet the needs of the local population.

We are clear the reconfiguration of front line health services is a matter for the local NHS. Services should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population, and proposals for substantial service change must meet the four tests of reconfiguration which are (i) support from GP commissioners (ii) strengthened public and patient engagement (iii) clarity on the clinical evidence base (iv) support for patient choice.

In 2014 Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) launched a Clinical Services Review which seeks to:
• Meet the needs of an increasing elderly population with complex needs;
• Overcome funding challenges;
• Lay plans for the next five years and beyond, and
• Secure high-quality services for current and future generations

The CCG has also stated it aims to achieve a more sustainable workforce across hospitals to allow better care to be provided more reliably over the whole of Dorset in future years.

As part of the Clinical Services Review, the CCG is proposing changes to the organisation of Dorset's acute hospitals. On 18 May 2016 the CCG’s Governing Body named its preferred option under the review, which proposes Royal Bournemouth Hospital as the major emergency hospital; Poole Hospital as the major planned care hospital with a 24-hour urgent care centre, and Dorset County Hospital as remaining a district general hospital and retaining its A & E Department.

The CCG has stated this configuration will now be independently scrutinised as part of the national assurance process led by NHS England and the proposals will go to the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Dorset.

If approved, the CCG has confirmed the proposals will be subject to public consultation planned for later this year.

Department of Health