BRIDPORT’S Mayor has condemned West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin for his comments regarding the campaign to fight for services at Dorset County Hospital.

Cllr Ros Kayes, who has been supporting the hospital campaigners, said he was being disingenuous and that the was the changes were being carried out left a ‘nasty taste in the mouth’.

Sir Oliver was contacted by Beaminster resident Carolyn Emmett, who called on the MP for support following the news that the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Dorset County Hospital was to be downgraded so babies born under 32 weeks will be transferred elsewhere.

In his response, Mr Letwin said: “I have become persuaded that the changes which are proposed will actually lead to better and safer care for those of my constituents who have very premature babies or other serious complications, and I think it would therefore be entirely irresponsible for me to promote or join any politically opportunistic bandwagon against these proposals.”

The campaigners are fighting to protect maternity and paediatric services at Dorset County Hospital in light of the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Clinical Services Review, which could see changes to local health services.

The CCG insists the decision to downgrade the SCBU was not part of the Clinical Services Review and said that public consultation on any proposals that form part of the review will take place.

Following the comments by Sir Oliver, Cllr Kayes said that Mr Letwin was being disingenuous and accused the authorities of attempting to bring in changes through the back door.

She said: “It doesn’t matter which process has been used to remove care for the youngest born babies from Dorchester - an NHS England intervention or a clinical services review.

“Mr Letwin is being disingenuous because the net effect is the same: the service will go.

“And it is being done through the back door - with no public consultation by NHS England who have thereby failed in their statutory duty to consult on a major change to the way health‎ services are provided here.

“And the whole thing leaves a nasty taste in the mouth because it appears to have been done to avoid the possibility of a negative response from the public in the consultation.

“It may well open the door to Judicial Review.”

When contacted by the News regarding his comments to Ms Emmett, Sir Oliver said: “My own view is that we should be guided exclusively by what is most likely to provide safe and successful delivery of premature babies.

“That is what these proposals are intended to provide.

“And that is surely something we should all support.”