COULD someone explain to me the hold Poole/Bournemouth hospitals have over the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Dorset Healthcare Committee?

In Saturday’s Echo they are now moving the Dementia patients to Poole.

Not satisfied with moving the A & E from the COUNTY TOWN; which in the centre of the county (not the furthest east you can get before Hampshire); easy access by everyone from the west, north and south areas of the county.

It says they haven’t enough specialist staff to cope – what about Poole dementia suffers and their staff? Do they have enough staff to cope with the extras and more to come in the future? Linda Boland Locality Director mentions that transport will be provided. Where is that money coming from? It could pay for extra staff in OUR local hospital.

Finally it would be interesting to know where in the county members of the CCG and the Dorset Health Care committee live? Poole/Bournemouth area?

Try living in the Lyme Regis area and having to travel even further.

I suggest to ALL of you making these decisions go to Lyme at different times of the day and night, acting it out as an emergency (your loved one is dying) to arrive at Bournemouth/Poole hospital. How Long!!! How did you feel after all that time in the car and frustrations of hold ups?

So I suggest you use some of the money (earmarked for Bournemouth, who can’t cope in their A & E now; what hope have they got in the future) to extend Dorchester County Hospital so everyone has a fair chance of less journey time and quality care.

Whatever the condition of the patient. Home is the heart of the soul - not miles.

E Dench

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