A BID to introduce unannounced inspections by governors at Dorset County Hospital has been blocked.

Three patient governors introduced a motion at the latest governors’ meeting to change their current inspections to unannounced visits.

Director of nursing Alison Tong said that last year the governors carried out announced inspections in six areas of the hospital, despite hospital protocol only requiring them to do four.

However, governors Andy Hutchings, Derek Julian and Michel Hooper-Immins put forward a bid to make future visits unannounced.

Mr Hutchings said the idea of unannounced inspections on behalf of patients was in line with the latest thinking of Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley and Prime Minister David Cameron.

He added: “We are coming in when the hospital wants us to come in.

“I’m always wary of these announced inspections.”

Several other governors raised concerns about the potential impact of unannounced inspections on staff, particularly when the hospital is already subject to a range of other inspections from other statutory bodies.

Jo Bowkett said: “I’m not in favour of unannounced visits, it’s a disruption.”

The majority of governors voted against.