A DESPERATE plea has gone out for people to fight to secure the future of the crisis-hit Dorset County Hospital.

Patients and supporters from Bridport and across West Dorset have warned the hospital’s board that it will have a fight on its hands if it tries to cut major services.

Worried hospital users attended a public meeting held by West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin to rally support for the hospital.

It came after a shock announcement last week that 200 jobs will be cut over the next year and that services would change to halt the hospital board’s spiralling £7.5million debt.

Mr Letwin told the meeting at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange: “I think if anybody thought it would be a good idea to close any of the big units, there would be a fight.”

He issued a rallying cry for the public to make their feelings absolutely clear about the need for the hospital.

Mr Letwin said: “I think the important thing is weight in numbers to demonstrate a lot of people really are concerned.

“I hope that some people will join together in a network, which I think we now need to move forward to help the hospital in a particular way.”

Mr Letwin said supporting the threatened staff would also be essential.

He said: “This is a real personal crisis for these people and we must make sure there are resources across Dorset to support these people and help them into jobs.”

Jackie Allen, chairwoman of the 55 Forum Dorchester and District Senior Citizens Group, warned that frontline staff must be safeguarded.

She said: “Any cuts will impact severely on the type of care the citizens of our area will receive.”

She added: “At that the moment there is a feeling it is very top heavy in management.”

Pam Corbin, of Fortuneswell Cancer Trust, fears how cancer patients might be affected.

The charity spent 10 years helping to establishing new facilities for the cancer unit at the hospital.

Actor Martin Clunes opened the £650,000 Fortuneswell chemotherapy unit in April this year.

The trust is now planning on creating an isolation room for patients but Mrs Corbin was unsure about its prospects under the shake-up.

Hilary Foggo, a senior forum development officer representing older people in Dorset, is worried how elderly patients will manage if local clinics in community hospitals are axed, as has been suggested.

Mrs Foggo said: “Providing consultants in community hospitals not only cuts down travel problems, particularly for elderly people, it saves missed appointments at Dorset County Hospital because people can’t physically get there. It’s a false economy to get rid of them.”

Steve Bick, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for West Dorset, said: “They have spent too much on agency staff, probably £14million in the past year, and had a huge growth in management.”

David Barrett, leader of the independent party on West Dorset District Council, was concerned where this would leave the hospital’s expansion plans.

Mr Letwin is planning another meeting in early December when the hospital board is expected to produce its recovery plan.