A FAMILY who know how ‘draining’ travelling miles for hospital treatment can be have backed the Echo’s campaign to protect paediatric and baby services at Dorset County Hospital.

David and Sarah Tibbles’ son George was born prematurely in July 2013.

His treatment included a nine-week stay in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Dorchester.

Staff even threw little George a 100-day birthday party.

George has cerebral palsy but is ‘doing well’ and progressing with his treatment, but his family say they wouldn’t wish the struggle they’ve faced with hospital visits on any other family.

David said: “George was born in July 2013 in Portsmouth QA Hospital at 25 weeks, so he was very premature.

“He was cared for in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) for a month or so before being transferred to Poole NICU and ultimately, to Dorchester SCBU, where he stayed for nine weeks.

“Because we had to travel from home to Portsmouth and later to Poole we know how draining it can be to travel every day to be with your loved ones.

“We live in Sturminster Newton which is 25 miles from Poole and we were spending up to two hours every day just travelling to be with him - it was a real drain on time, finances and emotionally too, particularly if you have other children to care for.

“We wouldn’t wish that on any other family and we will fight any changes that result in care being moved away from this part of the county. Politicians and administrators forget sometimes what impact there is on families when making decisions like this.

“They look at statistics and make judgements based on narrow criteria that almost certainly does not include consideration of the impact on the lives of the families concerned.

“Having a child in hospital is traumatic enough without having to deal with the problems of travelling and parking - all you want to do is to be with your child.

“These proposals are the result of cost cutting in the NHS and we are very angry that those who propose these cuts did not make these proposals public before the General Election so that the electorate could have voiced their concerns.”

As reported in the Echo, the Clinical Commissioning Group is planning an overhaul of Dorset’s healthcare.

Proposals include having a Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) at Dorchester with consultants available 16 hours a day.

There would be one neo-natal unit in east Dorset.

And children with serious or long-term health needs would also need to go to the major hospital in the east of the county for treatment.

The CCG says that ‘experts in paediatric medicine and care are indicating that it is not necessary to have large and increasing numbers of inpatient beds for children. Instead of being admitted to hospital the care of children could be delivered in a different and more effective way.’

The proposals will go out for public consultation and the CCG says no decisions have yet been made.