A CAMPAIGN to reopen Portland Community Hospital has been backed by South Dorset’s MP amid concerns that the use of hotels to accommodate discharged hospital patients is a move towards privatisation of local NHS services.

Beds were cut at the hospital due to staff shortages, and since the outbreak of Covid-19 the facility has been closed completely – and, as reported, campaigners want community hospitals to reopen as it emerges that patients are being discharged to local hotels at a cost of over £49,000 a week.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax has now stepped in to ask the Government for reassurances that 'thousands of nurse vacancies' would be filled after the Covid-19 outbreak.

Speaking at a virtual House of Commons meeting, Mr Drax said: “The beds at Portland Community Hospital had to move to Weymouth because of the shortage of trained staff.

"Can my honourable friend assure my constituents that we will fill the thousands of nurse vacancies, thereby allowing community hospitals like Portland to fulfil their proper function?”

Health Minister Edward Argar replied: “The government is committed to growing and supporting the NHS workforce to ensure it continues to provide world class health and care.

"We have set out our pledge ​that we will deliver 50,000 more nurses in our NHS by 2025... including through retention and recruitment.

"Many of these will operate in community hospitals enabling them to continue providing world class care.”

Mr Drax said: “The current crisis has emphasised how important it is to staff the NHS properly.

“With the appropriate number of trained nurses and doctors, I would hope that we could reopen the beds on Portland in the future.

"These cosy, community facilities are invaluable, providing care near where people live and where friends and family can visit easily.”

The Dorset Trades Union Council (TUC) has expressed concerns that the use of hotels to accommodate patients is a move towards privatisation.

Jenny Lennon-Wood, secretary of Dorset TUC, said: We are concerned this is another step in privatising our health service. Successive governments have been obsessed with introduction of private providers to the NHS, closing public facilities and favouring companies that seek to profit from ill-health. This is the American model of healthcare – we do not want it here.”