The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has approved £147 million plans to reorganise hospital services in Dorset.

Under the plans, the Accident and Emergency department at Poole Hospital will close and move to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, eight miles away.

Poole Hospital will instead become the major planned care hospital for East Dorset.

Campaigners have criticised the decision, saying it puts patient care in jeopardy but Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says it will improve services for local people and bring huge improvements to thousands of patients.

The two NHS Trusts also plan to merge to become the East Dorset Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The plans include:

£147 million investment in acute hospital services, including a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit at Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Redevelopment and investment in Poole Hospital to create a new Urgent Treatment Centre and 14 theatres to help reduce waiting times and prevent cancelled operations for patients requiring planned care

A new purpose built women’s and children’s unit on the eastern side of Dorset

More services provided closer to people’s homes

New ways of working for NHS staff that will make best use of their skills and provide better care for local people

Networks of clinical services for stroke, cardiac and cancer services to ensure that everyone gets the same level of care across the county

Artist’s impression of the planned Emergency Department at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Credit: Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

We are very pleased that we are now able to move forward in the process of securing a significant investment of £147m into local healthcare and proceed with changes that will make a real difference to local people Tim Goodson, Chief Officer of NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group

Artist’s impression of the planned redevelopment of the operating theatres at Poole Hospital. Credit: Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust