It is the task of a publicly elected trust governor to call the executive board to account on behalf of patients.

It is also the governor’s role to inform the public of the findings of quality control visits by governors on how the hospital is looking after patients.

DCHT was the first hospital in the country to introduce independent inspections following concerns I had over too many hospital acquired infections and patients’ concerns over cleanliness in 2007.

DCHT has improved in all aspects of care, cleanliness and considerable reduction in hospital acquired infections.

We must never be complacent and we must always seek to improve.

Following the Echo report of April 1 about hospital blunders and the amount of compensation paid out I feel it my duty to point out some of the mistakes happened years ago.

Settlements take many years to resolve.

We would like to reassure patients that DCHT is one of the best hospitals in the country. The care and quality of the thousands of operations carried out is second to none.

Yes, in life, mistakes will happen. However I know the board, the chief executive and staff are working all the time to improve the care quality of patients.

Andy Hutchings and myself recently did a night visit to Accident and Emergency.

We were so very impressed with the consultants and staff’s dedication to the care of the patients.

Yes, we will continue to call the board to account, but be reassured that DCHT is one of the best hospitals in the country.

Derek Julian, Dorset County Hospital, Public elected governor