The future of health and care services on Portland are to be discussed at a series of public meetings.

Dorset HealthCare is keen to hear local people’s views on what health services are needed and how all organisations can work together to provide them.

It comes after the island's hospital lost its community beds as part of a shake-up of NHS services across the county.

And it also follows fears expressed over the future of the hospital, as reported in Saturday's Echo.

Dorset HealthCare runs a range of services on the island, including the hospital, mental health, sexual health, health visiting, district nursing, school nursing and other professional services like speech and language therapy, podiatry and occupational therapy.

Chief Executive Ron Shields said: “In July I met with around 200 people to try and explain why beds at Portland Hospital were going to close. Understandably, many of the people at the meeting were angry and all were sad that this element of the NHS on Portland was to stop.

“I made an unequivocal commitment to start a discussion with people on Portland about how we, together with GPs, councils and other partners, could make sure that Portlanders get the very best services.”

The beds at Portland Hospital were moved to Westhaven Hospital in Weymouth at the beginning of August following difficulty in securing enough staff to safely operate the ward. A range of services are still based at the hospital.

Campaigners expressed their concern last week however when it emerged the sale of the hospital had been mooted in a Dorset HealthCare board report.

The trust said there were no plans to close the facility and it had only been raised as part of investigating capital investment priorities.

Mr Shields added: “We are really keen to make sure that the people of Portland are fully involved in developing services that will meet the needs of everyone on the island. Please come along and share your ideas and your views.”

The three planned meetings will give local people the opportunity to help shape the future of the hospital and discuss the possibility of developing a health and wellbeing community hub on Portland.

The meetings are on

* Monday, October 22, 10am, St John’s Hall, Fortuneswell

* Tuesday, October, 23, 7.30pm, C2000 Centre, Easton

* Wednesday, October 24, 2pm, St Andrew’s Hall

Anyone can attend the meetings and can book their place by emailing dhc.communications.team@nhs.net or call 01202 277085.