PATIENTS have raised concerns about potential "devastating" changes to hospital services as health bosses prepare to launch a public consultation.

Bridport Town Council hosted a public forum on Tuesday to allow residents to have their say on the Dorset clinical services review, which will start next week.

The public consultation by Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), will start on Thursday, December 1 and run until February 28, 2017.

The proposals include changes to the larger hospitals in the county and bringing more care closer to home through the development of community services including new hubs. At the packed public meeting, patients raised worries over potentially moving some services from Dorset County Hospital to Bournemouth.

Rev Michael Deegan, warden of the Pilsdon Community refuge centre, said: "The idea of combining those service is actually quite devastating to the people we serve.

"It is going to have a huge and negative impact on the work we are doing with 12 adults. To make a change as large as this is absolutely devastating to them."

Richard Nicholls raised concerns that potential changes could affect women more than men.

He added: "It is about time they listen to people in Bridport and in Lyme - it's absolutely outrageous."

Barry Bates told the council that Bridport CAB is experiencing "record number of cases" regarding health issues, while John West labelled the clinical services review as "an excuse for saving money".

The proposals will aim to help Dorset deliver its five-year plan for improving health and care services in the county.

CCG chairman Dr Forbes Watson, said “Whether you agree with the proposals or not, we want to hear from you. You can also help by picking up a copy of the consultation document and questionnaire and giving it to friends or family members. It is important that as many people have their say as possible."

He added: "We would like to reassure people that their views will be listened to and nothing will be decided until we have gathered the opinions of local people and final proposals have been agreed by the CCG governing body."

Events are being planned, thousands of consultation documents will be available across the county - including GP practices and hospitals - while the questionnaire will be available online.

A list of where copies can be picked up from will be available at dorsetsvision.nhs.uk from December 1 or by calling 01202 541946.