A BID to use a disused factory as a private hospital would help slash waiting lists at Dorchester's NHS hospital, the doctor behind the scheme claimed last night.

Dr Mark Hughes told councillors that his plans to use the empty Poundbury factory would complement the services at the NHS-run Dorset County Hospital and the existing private Winterbourne Hospital.

His comments came as members of Dorchester Town Council's planning and environment committee considered the proposal to change the use of the former Photomatrix Limited photo-processing lab on Paceycombe Way to enable a 30-bed in-patient hospital to be established.

Dr Hughes, of Bradford Peverell, told the meeting that the proposed change of use would provide extra capacity for the newly-formed Dorset County Hospital NHS Trust.

He said: "This proposal is borne out of a need to provide extra capacity for the new foundation trust and also to provide proper choice for the people of West Dorset. The proposal is to support West Dorset in reducing waiting times.

The foundation trust is struggling with theatre space - this will provide extra capacity."

More than a dozen residents living near to the Poundbury site attended the meeting to voice concerns about potential traffic movement to and from the site, lack of parking spaces, the impact the change of use would have on neighbours and the potential loss of amenity.

Glenys Jones told the meeting she was concerned about the number of patients, staff and visitors.

"Based on the maximum figures that could be more than 300 patient, visitor and staff movements every day. It will impact on our lives greatly," she said.

But Dr Hughes said there would be peak times - before surgery sessions, for example, for people arriving on the site.

He said although the proposed hospital could carry out many operations a day on some occasions theatres would be used for just one complex operation that could last all day.

Councillor Andy Canning said that he was concerned that there would be an impact on the amenity of the site's neighbours and that there would not be enough parking spaces on the site. He recommended the council opposed the change of use on those grounds. But Coun Canning's proposal to oppose the change of use was lost and members agreed the scheme should be approved.

West Dorset District Council has already received a number of letters objecting to the proposal and comments can still be made until Friday.

A final decision on the proposal by the district council should be made within the next few weeks.

'Plan may threaten established clinic'

A NEW private hospital would threaten the future of an established clinic less than two miles away, it has been claimed.

GP Steve Bick says West Dorset cannot sustain two private hospitals. He claims the proposal for a 30-bed facility at Poundbury would affect business at the Winterbourne Hospital in Herringston Road.

Dr Bick also suggested the new development could even have a knock-on effect on Dorset County Hospital.

Applicant Dr Mark Hughes says the hospital - which would be similar in size to the Winterbourne - could employ up to 140 people if approved.

Dr Bick makes a number of referrals to the Winterbourne through his practice work at the Dorchester Road Surgery in Weymouth but also as the team doctor for Dorchester Football Club.

He said: "For most patients the first point of call would be to use the NHS to deal with their health problems - but some patients do decide to go private.

"Sometimes the NHS cannot do the operation quick enough or the procedure may not be covered by the NHS.

"Therefore if the new hospital goes ahead as planned I believe it would clearly threaten the viability of the Winterbourne hospital and could lead to its closure."

Dr Bick claims approving the new hospital would effectively 'open the door to privatisation of the NHS.'

Dorset County Hospital would suffer because of the 'payment by results' reforms which are aimed at making hospitals compete for funds by offering better care for patients, Dr Bick explained.

He said: "The proposed new hospital at Poundbury would be competing for operations currently done at DCH. If DCH loses business it loses money, which again could threaten jobs or even the viability of the hospital."

Dr Bick, who lives in Dorchester, argues any new businesses being established at Poundbury should not be taking customers away from established sites in the town.

No one from the Winterbourne Hospital was available to comment.