CAMPAIGNERS fighting against the possible move of pathology services from Dorset County Hospital will be presenting an 8,000-strong petition to the hospital chairman ahead of a board meeting today.

It comes as hospital governors were told that bosses are due to discuss the future of pathology services next month – but they still may not come to a final decision The board was accused of a ‘lack of openness and transparency’ over the issue at a council of governors’ meeting.

Michel Hooper-Immins made the comment, adding that he and other governors could do nothing but ‘view from the sidelines’.

He added: “All we can do is comment about the decision after it has been made.”

Chairing the meeting, chairman of DCHFT Dr Jeffery Ellwood pledged that the board will consider all the evidence before making a decision.

He said: “I suspect that some of you may be viewing from the sidelines but others may be supporting the board in its review of hospital services.”

Dr Ellwood told governors that a board meeting will be held in October in response to a question put to the meeting by patient governor Derek Julian requesting an update on the pathology tender.

He said: “We are going to be collecting evidence and then we will have a meeting in October and make a decision on what that evidence indicates is the best position for DCH.”

But he stopped short of confirming whether the meeting will produce a final decision when asked by governor Andy Hutchings.

Dr Ellwood said: “It’s hard to say. Let’s hope we can put an end to the speculation one way or another but I won’t say it will definitely be final.”

Thousands of people have signed a petition to keep the pathology lab in Dorchester and campaigners fear the service could be moved to a privately-run laboratory in Taunton.

Not all governors were critical of the board’s decision to review the service.

Mr Julian said: “The board does have a duty to examine the services in the best interests of the patients and the hospital. It’s your duty to try to improve the services we deliver at this hospital.”

David Weir, chairman of Friends of DCH, said: “The pathology service is a service my family experienced very recently and it is of a fantastically high standard.”

Acting chief executive Patricia Miller denied there had been a ‘lack of openness and transparency’.

She said: “We could not have been any more transparent and inclusive with the staff.”