BRIDPORT Hospital could become a community hub under new proposals.

The NHS wants to shake-up of community services in Dorset and the county’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is looking to increase the provision of community beds across the county.

The proposals were agreed by the governing body this week and will go out to consultation in the autumn.

Chairman of the CCG Dr Forbes Watson said the proposals for community services are all part of the Clinical Services Review, which is looking at how Dorset can continue to deliver quality health services in the future in the light of increasing demands and a projected funding gap.

The recommendations were drawn up following extensive consultation with stakeholders and members of the public and would see an overall increase in 69 community beds, bringing the total in the county up to 416.

These will be provided across a range of locality ‘hubs’ - one being Bridport - with the proposals aiming to make greater use of under-used community hospitals to deliver more care closer to home and offer a greater range of services.

Dr Watson said that if the plans are implemented it is hoped they will result in 100,000 patients across the county being treated in community hospitals as opposed to the under pressure acute hospitals.

He said: “This is about delivering seven-day services closer to home and it’s about reconfiguring the use of community hospitals.”

The model drawn up suggests that 100 per cent of people will be able to reach one of the seven community bedded sites within 32 minutes by private car or within an hour by public transport.

Dr Watson stressed that the proposals still had to go through a public consultation.

He said: “We do of course recognise that there is a great deal of public interest in the review and that these options could cause anxiety among some people therefore would like to re-iterate that at this stage these are proposals which will face further national scrutiny before going to a full and thorough public consultation.”

He added: “This will deliver new models of care, much more comprehensively and closer to home for the people of Dorset in a system we think is fit for the future.

“For example, at the moment if you live in Bridport and had an outpatient appointment you may have to travel to Dorset County Hospital. Under the recommendations this appointment could be delivered at Bridport Hospital – meaning you wouldn’t have to travel so far because we would be able to deliver this in a community setting.

“These recommendations could see thousands of local people benefit from care delivered closer to home, in a range of community settings, including the proposed community hubs working alongside existing services which deliver health and social care.

“They are the result of close working with local clinicians and members of the public who have told us how they would like services in the community to be delivered.

“Since the launch of the review we have gathered more than 29,000 pieces of feedback and spoken with thousands of local people, seeking their views on local services.”