CAMPAIGNERS fighting to protect Dorset County Hospital's Kingfisher Ward will be on the march again.

Following an Echo-backed march through Dorchester earlier this summer that attracted more than 1,000 people, protesters are organising a Christmas-themed march that will be held in December.

It comes after the consultation that will help decide the future of the ward was put back from August to January next year.

The ward faces an uncertain future following proposals that emerged from the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group that included the possibility of transferring children's inpatient services to Bournemouth or Poole.

The CCG has delayed the consultation to carry out further work on the proposals but the campaigners are keen to keep up their fight to stress the importance of keeping services in Dorchester.

The Echo has also been running its own “Hands off our Wards” campaign to protect children’s services in the local area attracting more than 16,000 signatures.

The next march will be held on Saturday, December 12 with those taking part meeting at the Top O'Town car park from 11am before marching through the town.

Mum Naomi Patterson, whose son George regularly requires the care of the Kingfisher Ward, said: "We are going to make it a real Christmas event, we are possibly going to get some real reindeer and a sleigh and we'll have Father Christmas there."

She added that they were also keen to put the children who rely on Kingfisher at the forefront of the march to highlight what the event was all about.

In the meantime further events are planned to keep up awareness of the campaign.

Next Wednesday parents whose children have relied on the ward will be sharing their stories to make a film in Dorchester's Borough Gardens.

A benefit gig is also planned for Friday, September 4 from 7pm at the TA Centre in Dorchester's Poundbury Road with music from Robb Johnson and The Irregulars, The Skones and Jamie McDonald.

Naomi said the campaigners are keen to keep up the pressure over the coming months and hope the march in December will also highlight the issues ahead of the start of the consultation next year.

They have received support from local MPs Oliver Letwin and Richard Drax and recently were also backed by Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn when he visited the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival and met the campaigners.

Naomi said: "He said he would like to be kept in touch with the campaign and he couldn't understand what they are going to do here in Dorchester."

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