PLANS to create a dedicated cancer ward and close a further 20 beds at Dorset County Hospital are moving ahead.

Last month the Dorchester hospital announced it was going out to consultation on the second phase of its bed reconfiguration after 39 beds were taken out of action last October.

Consultation has now ended and the plans are being finalised with the cancer ward expected to open in April.

Patient governor Andy Hutchings told a recent governors’ meeting that he welcomed the news on the proposed 14-bed cancer ward, describing it as ‘first class’, but asked for more information about how the additional bed closures proposed would impact on the running of the hospital.

He said: “It’s something that is going to affect the patients in the long run.”

Director of operations Patricia Miler said the bed closures last year were always intended to be the first phase of a bed reconfiguration scheme.

She said dramatic improvements in the average time patients were staying at the hospital meant it was now able to take another 20 beds out of action, with the option to bring them back into use if demand dictates.

She said: “We are running on a green bed state, which means we have got lots of surplus beds.

“To take 20 beds out of the system in the summer period and having the flexibility to flex our beds up and down as demand dictates, is routine practice in hospitals.

“I’m quite confident that taking another 20 beds out is not going to affect the flow of the hospital.”

Mrs Miller said the new dedicated cancer ward is expected to open in April and will offer specialised care for long-term cancer patients.

She said: “It’s creating the right environment for those patients.”

Mrs Miller added that said she did not anticipate any further bed closures for some time.

She said: “I am not envisaging we will need any further changes to the bed stock for quite a while.”

Chairman of the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Jeffery Ellwood said the changes to bed numbers had nothing to do with finances and would not affect patient care.

He said: “This Trust is able to take out these beds without affecting patient care.”

Mr Hutchings also asked about the potential for accommodating a private patient facility on the site.

Chief executive Jean O’Callaghan said there had been ‘no movement on that whatsoever’ as a government cap on the amount of private activity the hospital was able to provide on the site remained in place.