The public's response to controversial plans for a major health shake-up in Dorset has been revealed – and many oppose proposals for changes to maternity services.

The findings of NHS Dorset CCG’s Clinical Services Review were presented at an event at Kingston Maurward yesterday.

The consultation, which cost "just short" of £100,000 to carry out, asked for feedback on site specific options for Dorset County (DCH), Poole and Royal Bournemouth hospitals, the configuration of maternity and paediatrics, changes to community services and the redistribution of beds across the county.

Proposals include changes to acute hospital services in Dorset which would see Bournemouth Hospital designated a major emergency care hospital, and Poole Hospital a major planned hospital with a 24-hour urgent care centre.

At the event, it was revealed that the merging of maternity and paediatric services with Yeovil District Hospital (YDH) was found to be the most contentious proposal.

Given a choice between consultant-led service in Bournemouth with an integrated service across DCH and YDH, or, a specialist centre based in Bournemouth covering the whole of Dorset with midwife-led services for children at DCH, there was little support for either.

Many people rejected both options but stated that if they had to choose, the first option would be preferable as it offered quicker access to specialist care.

In Weymouth and Portland, a residents' survey carried out via telephone found that 77 per cent of residents would prefer the first option, if they had to make a choice, while 16 per cent chose the second option.

An open questionnaire found that 54 per cent of residents would choose the first option, while 39 per cent would opt for the second.

There was strong support amongst residents for retaining consultant-led services at DCH because of its "accessible location and standard of care."

Dale Hall, founder of independent analysts Opinion Research Services (ORS) which led the consultation, said: “That is not to assume that Dorchester will be the basis of care.”

The consultation was carried out between December 2016 and February 2017, receiving more than 18,500 questionnaire responses from participants across Dorset.

In addition, more than 1,900 people attended drop-in events, 14 focus groups took place and 1,005 people took part in telephone surveys.

In April, independent watchdog Healthwatch Dorset criticised Dorset CCG, saying many residents failed to make their voices heard because they gave up filling in the 48 page questionnaire.

It told the CCG it needed to present its proposals in plain, jargon-free language that could be understood by members of the general public.

The CCG will review the results of the consultation before making any decisions. Mental health services will be reviewed separately.

Mr Hall said: “It seems to me that we have got wide support and clear support for the proposals in principle and practice.”

Tim Goodson, chief officer of Dorset CCG, said the CCG needed time to go through the report before making any decisions. He said that decisions could be made in September "at the earliest" and admitted they would need to look further in to the issue of travel times.

During the consultation process, an Echo-backed petition featuring more than 20,000 signatures and an online petition with more than 7,000 signatures were handed to the CCG opposing the closure of the Kingfisher Ward at DCH.

Speaking after Wednesday’s meeting, Naomi Patterson, who has campaigned tirelessly to save Kingfisher Ward, said: “We’ll continue to raise awareness of the importance of that 24-hour open access.

“Increased travel times does not make sense, not only for the public, but for the ambulance service as well.

“During our campaign, everybody came together. Nobody wants to see children lose their services. We will continue to raise awareness.”

The results can be found at https://www.csr.dorsetsvision.nhs.uk/headlines/

Views will be listened to - CCG

Dr Forbes Watson, chairman of NHS Dorset CCG, said: “I would personally like to thank all individuals and organisations who took the time to feedback on our proposals during the public consultation and would like to reassure them that their views will be listened to as we consider any final decisions and recommendations.

“Everyone involved in the CSR is aware that people have differing views and the prospect of change can, in some cases, be a cause of anxiety for those who use local services. However with the challenges the NHS faces, without making changes people living in and around Dorset will not receive the same high quality services as they currently do.

“It is important to understand that these findings are not interpreted as final decisions. The report produced by ORS will inform the final business case, which will be presented to NHS Dorset CCG’s governing body in late 2017 to assist them in making final decisions which will then be widely publicised.”