HEALTH bosses have been presented with more than 20,000 reasons to protect services at Dorset County Hospital.

A resounding display of public support has seen 20,755 people put their name to an Echo petition calling for inpatient services to remain at the Dorchester hospital after proposals emerged that could see them transferred to Bournemouth or Poole.

The petition was handed over by eight-year-old Lexi Hopkin, from Wool, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in January and was give nine to 12 months to live.

The number of signatures was boosted by the tireless efforts of a group of hospital campaigners, who have taken petitions along to various communities and events in south and west Dorset over recent months.

A further 6,000 people have also put their name to an online petition organised by the campaigners.

The Echo's petition was presented to the CCG's assistant clinical chair Dr Karen Kirkham, chief officer Tim Goodson and director of engagement and development Charles Summers.

A group of supporters gathered outside the CCG's offices in Dorchester as campaigners Naomi Patterson and Nicky Dear came to present the petition along with Lexi, who was supported by mum Carly, dad Michael and 16-month-old sister Beau.

Accepting the petition, Dr Kirkham said that the CCG would take notice of the 'ground swell' of opinion as it prepared for a public consultation phase early next year.

Currently the CCG is planning to put two options forward for the future of the children's services, one would see the fully fledged service remain in Dorchester and the other would see DCH downgraded to a paediatric assessment unit with inpatient services transferred to the east of the county.

Campaigner Naomi said the protests recognised that the CCG needed to respond to the financial challenges it was facing but urged its bosses to not to let children's services at DCH's Kingfisher Ward be affected.

She said: "We understand that there are changes that need to be made but we just don't want to lose overnight services."

Lexi's mum Carly said that her daughter was due to receive palliative care at the Kingfisher Ward and both her and Naomi pleaded with the CCG not to take that service away from them.

Lexi, who turned eight last month, was diagnosed with a DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) tumour in January this year.

Mum Carly said the location of the tumour at the top of the brainstem meant it was inoperable and incurable.

Lexi has already undergone one intense course of radiotherapy and is due to start another course shortly, which the family hopes will let them have Christmas together.

Carly spoke of the support Kingfisher Ward had provided for the family from the moment they received Lexi’s devastating diagnosis.

She said: “If it wasn’t for them I don’t know where we would be.

“The staff have been fantastic right from when Lexi was diagnosed.

“The care and attention and the support they have given not just Lexi but us as a family has been amazing.”

The family, who live in Wool, has a strong connection with the hospital. Lexi, like siblings Mea, 10, and 16-month-old Beau, was born there and she will also received palliative care there so she and the family do not have to travel across the county to the nearest children’s hospice.

Since the diagnosis Carly said the family have been concentrating on creating as many happy memories for Lexi as they can and have set up a crowdfunding page at youcaring.com that has raised over £14,000 to enable her to swim with dolphins and ride a camel.

The cost of travel insurance means they are now no longer able to take Lexi abroad but they do have a number of other trips, including a trip to Centre Parcs and the Winter Wonderland in London planned if little Lexi is well enough.

Carly thanked all those who had come out to show their support at the handover of the petition.

She said: "We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you guys fighting for it."

The Echo's Acting editor Diarmuid Macdonagh said: “The overwhelming public support for our petition shows how much residents of west Dorset value the services at Dorset County Hospital.

“Over the course of the Hands off our Wards campaign we have spoken to families with children who, without the services at DCH, simply wouldn’t be here.

“When decision time comes, we hope that the voices of the many thousands of people who have signed the petition will be heard.”

 

Dr Karen Kirkham, the CCG's assistant clinical chair and chair of maternity and family services, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the petitions we received today. 

"Please be assured they will form part of the views and evidence being considered as part of the ongoing discussions which are taking place.

"As we have said since the start of the review no decisions have been made nor will they be until after people have had an opportunity to have their say on proposals. 

"We are committed to keeping local people informed about our plans and I would encourage anyone who is interested in the future of children’s care in Dorset to look at our website to find out more about the two options that are being considered along with more information about why we are doing this.  

"As our need to change document shows, the NHS faces significant challenges in the future and these proposals will help ensure local children can continue to get the care they need. 

"As a GP living and working in Dorset I see people every day that use local services and as such I fully recognise the strength of feeling there is around any proposed changes to health services in the county. 

"We have no concerns about the quality of current paediatric care and are fortunate that in Dorset we are able to offer high quality and safe services for children; however to make sure this continues we need to work closely with local hospitals to consider new ways of working. 

"In order to help us with this, a Royal College Review will take place later this year which will help ensure we make sensible decisions.

"There are no easy answers, but we hope people understand that local organisations have been working closely together to do the best they can for local children."