The decision to reorganise NHS services in Dorset will be referred to the Secretary of State for health for independent review.

Dorset County Council's health scrutiny committee narrowly voted to refer the Dorset CCG's clinical services review to the government in a heated meeting on Wednesday.

The decision was met with cheers and applause from members of the public who packed into County Hall in Dorchester for the meeting following lively protests outside the building.

Groups from Defend Dorset NHS, Save Portland Beds, Dorset Support Group for SEN Parents and Save Poole Hospital A&E all turned out to make their concerns heard over plans for a shake-up of health services in the county.

During the meeting, several campaigners stood up and jeered as Cllr Ray Bryan said the CCG “is listening to residents.”

The protests come in the light of bed closures at Portland Hospital and concerns over maternity and emergency services for the whole county.

Prominent campaigner Giovanna Lewis told councillors: “Last week I was phoned by an 86-year-old lady who told me her husband had been cared for last year at Portland Hospital.

“She said visiting him in Weymouth would have been an impossible task. She cried when she thought of other people in her situation not having access to Portland Hospital.

“This is not a political campaign, it is a campaign for the people of Dorset.”

Weymouth and Portland borough councillor Kate Wheller said: “To reduce services in the west is to sign a death warrant to its residents.”

Six out of ten councillors voted against the motion which recommended not to refer the clinical services review to the Secretary of State, on the basis that travel times have not been properly assessed, and no alternative has been provided to the loss of community hospitals locally.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Bill Pipe called the decision "unfortunate," however Cllr Nick Ireland, who has challenged the CCG proposals several times over the last year, said: "I'm very happy, I have been voting for a referral since last November and my position hasn't changed.

"People in south and west Dorset would be inconvenienced, and this would be to their detriment."

Speaking to the Echo following the decision Tim Goodson, Dorset CCG chief officer, said: "We respect the decision of the health scrutiny committee to make a referral.

"We equally are content to provide whatever evidence the Secretary of State would require as part of any enquiry he may decide to undertake."