One battle is won but the fight is far from over. 

This is the message from campaigners fighting to protect children’s services at Dorset County Hospital.

Health bosses announced on September 13 that west Dorset’s paediatric and maternity services would not be centralised in the east of the county. 

But now campaigners face a new battle as services could be shared between DCH and Yeovil District Hospital (YDH). 

Campaigner Naomi Patterson said: “We (local parents) have been working on this campaign for three years but the anxiety hasn’t gone away. 

“We are still in the same position. 

“There’s still a chance we will lose our services and it would be such a waste of our campaign.”

Save Kingfisher Ward campaign group has now launched a new petition, backed by the Dorset Echo, aimed at Dorset CCG in a bid to retain full services at DCH.

Naomi said: “It’s about making sure the safest decisions are made and we just feel that having the DCH 24-hour consultant led service would be the safest option.

“They provide services for so many people and families could still be torn apart.”

She added that if services were moved to Yeovil, it would leave people in Weymouth, Portland and the surrounding areas worse off with Bournemouth still being their nearest service.

“Our campaign group want to put out that losing consultant-led services would mean a downgrade for the whole hospital.

“I do my best to keep my son out of hospital and I wouldn’t be able to provide that level of care without the Kingfisher Ward at DCH service. 

“He has open access care which means we can bypass GPs and A&E and go straight to the ward. 

“Obviously it will be a nightmare for us but if we lose the open access care it could be a massive strain on A&E and GP services,” Naomi said. 

She added that being able to go straight to the paediatric doctors was a massive stress relief for parents. 

Naomi said the DCCG confirmed DCH and YDH will be given three months to come up with proposals and they hope a public consultation will be completed and a decision made within six months. 

“We want to tell people our stories and why these services are vital to us,” she said. 

Naomi added she was disappointed about the number of people who turned out for the consultation. 

“Our aim is not just to build up the support but make sure people are getting to the consultations,” she said. 

Save Kingfisher Ward’s petition can be found at : you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-kingfisher-maternity-a-24-7-paediatric-led-unit-at-dorset-county-hospital

Plans 'will go to consulation' say DCCG

A statement from DCH said: “We welcome the CCG’s preferred option for paediatric and maternity services in the west, with DCH working with YDH to provide a sustainable and safe service for women and children. 

"Our consultant paediatricians and obstetricians will continue to work with their colleagues in Yeovil on the best possible solution for the local population."

A spokesman for NHS Dorset CCG said: “As agreed by the governing body, in the west of the county we will seek to commission the delivery of consultant-led maternity and paediatric services integrated across Dorset County Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital for the Dorset population. 

"This means that over the coming months, both hospitals will consider how this could work to offer the best for local families. 

"Any plans being subject to further public consultation by both Dorset and Somerset CCGs.”