RESIDENTS will have another ‘valuable opportunity’ to make their voices heard on the future of the Dorset NHS services.

Michel Hooper-Immins has been re-elected as chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Health Network (WPHN), the independent local patients’ forum of the Dorset NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

He told the committee, comprised of local carers and patients, that their input was going to be ever more important.

He said: “With the Clinical Services Review now postponed until next year, patients have another valuable opportunity to make their voices heard on the future of our vital local NHS services.

“Despite what is sometimes said, all the patients who talk to me, want to travel as little as possible to access health clinics and services.”

In June, Mr Hooper-Immins was also elected for a third three-year term as a public governor of the Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust.

There were four nominations for WPHN chairman in the election held at the September WPHN meeting, overseen by Dr John Orrell.

The other candidates were Michael Osmond, Jenny Stiling and Lucy Hamilton.

Among local problems discussed by the committee was the difficulty of accessing podiatry services.

Peter Greensmith, who represents Preston patients, said good foot care was vital to diabetics in the borough to avoid further problems and amputations.

Rosemary Smeeton, from the Wyke Regis surgery patients panel, questioned the discrepancy in rheumatology consultants, with only one at Dorset County Hospital, but four at Poole and five at Bournemouth Hospital.

The chairman said DCH was trying to recruit a second rheumatology consultant, but there were clearly insufficient consultants in the west of the county.

The chief executive at DCH will be asked to explain how the situation can be improved.

Mark Flute from the Weymouth and Portland Mental Health Team, updated members on improvements planned in October.