'We will fight' - This is the message from the Portland community as they came together to fight the potential loss of hospital beds on the isle.

Residents, councillors and members of the NHS staged a protest at Portland Hospital this morning (7) to challenge proposals to close 16 hospital beds at Portland Hospital.

At a meeting on Thursday evening, Ron Shields, chief executive of Dorset HealthCare said staffing shortages left the trust unable to operate beds at both Portland hospital and Westhaven hospital in Weymouth.

The beds are due to close on Tuesday, August 7.

At the protest, mayor of Portland, Charlie Flack, said he was "absolutely horrified" by the loss of the hospital beds and he felt "deeply upset" for the staff involved.

"We live in one of the most deprived parts of the country with an increasing elderly population and the need is there to have as many community beds and possible to meet the needs of these people," he said.

VITAL: Campaigner Giovanna Lewis and Cllr Sandy West say the beds are much-needed

Members of the community including councillors and NHS workers took to the floor to make their case to keep the beds open at the hospital.

Chris Gover, who is both a Portland councillor and a front line nurse, said the bed closure was "just the tip of the iceberg" and closures would add to the decline of the NHS.

"These beds are important. What they are is step down beds. They keep acute beds flowing. If we lose these beds, the four hour waiting target which the public asked for and the government introduced will go out the window and our NHS will collapse. Let's stand firm and make sure people do not die on beds in Emergency Departments," he said.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Trust has said that 16 out of the 34 beds at Westhaven Community Hospital which are currently closed would reopen.

However, Cllr Sandy West said Portland Hospital was a vital lifeline for members of the community and being close to home, aided their recovery.

"We have an abundance of seniors on this island over 30 per cent of people who live on this island are between the ages of 65 and 80," she said.

"It is a comfort to all the families that are here on Portland that when our loved ones are in Dorchester, they have the opportunity to come here to recuperate and we all know when you are not very well the anxiety you have and the anxiety your family have when you are miles away in Dorchester and you can't get to see each other it does not make sense. it does not help you recover. These beds are absolutely vital.

"God bless the NHS and I must say I think Nai Bevin would be absolutely turning in his grave if he could see what is happening to our NHS today."

Leader of Portland Town Council Ray Nowak, added being able to move patients to Portland prevented bed-blocking in Dorchester and Poole hospitals.

He said: "I am so pleased to see so many of you here today. I hope the message gets across the whole of the island. We are earnestly wanting to keep our hospital on Portland. It helps people recuperate when they have relatives and loved ones who can visit regularly."