AFTER the furore surrounding proposed cuts to services at Bridport Hospital, it opened its doors to the public to get the message across that it is alive and well.

Following the announcement of cuts to services, a campaign to fight them was launched with a 11,650-signature petition.

The Community Health Campaign CHC says its fight helped minimise the cuts and members have now formed a permanent group to monitor changes in health services.

A total of 26 people took part in tours at the open day to look around the hospital to see for themselves what the hospital has to offer.

Sally O’Donnell, deputy director of community services, and matron Heather Purse were among those on hand.

The hospital boasts two 22-bed wards – usually with 96 per cent occupancy, a minor injuries unit which saw 6,500 patients last year, averaging 20 to 28 a day, a theatre, X-ray department, outpatients and a chapel.

Mrs O’Donnell was keen to stress that although sessions in the theatre had gone down, dealing with around 92 procedures a month, they were hoping by March to have found other health care providers who wanted it.

“We are in changing times and yes there has been a reduction.

“But the fact that we have a theatre here with spare capacity provides us with an opportunity.

“When the theatre was open three days there was too much time when it wasn’t being used, but there is potential for other things.”

Mrs Purse added that the hospital was assuring the future of surgery on site by specialising in endoscopy, and there is still general GP surgery.

“What won’t be happening is consultant-led surgery,” she said.

Mrs Purse added: “Initially the staff and patients thought the services we offer were going to shrink but in fact that hasn’t happened.

“Now everyone feels very confident about the future and all the staff are entirely happy.

“The fear of job losses in out-patients was a reality until we realised how few services were going and there was no actual impact on anyone’s job.

“The theatre staff are all part time and are still working their contracted hours, what they are not doing is working the extra hours they used to do.

“We have always tried to run this hospital with flexibility of staff.”

Mrs O’Donnell said: “The message from the NHS trust commissioning board is a positive one but I can say I work for an organisation that is committed to developing local services”.