DORSET County Hospital’s chief executive has allayed fears raised by a governor about the future of the hospital.

Patient governor Andy Hutchings posed questions at a Council of Governors meeting after receiving phone calls and emails from people concerned about the future of the hospital.

He asked whether there had been any talks at board level with the hospital’s regulator Monitor or the Primary Care Trust regarding the hospital moving from a Foundation Trust to a community hospital.

Mr Hutchings also asked whether there had been any talks regarding the possibility of downgrading the 24-hour accident and emergency department.

Chief executive Jean O’Callaghan insisted that, despite the hospital like other organisations facing a challenging future in the economic climate, she had received assurances regarding its future status.

She said: “I have had discussions with the chief executive of the Primary Care Trust who has given me absolute assurance and commitment from a commissioning point of view that they have absolutely no intention of undermining the hospital or not having an acute hospital in Dorchester for Dorset.”

Mrs O’Callaghan added: “It’s going to challenging for everyone to work out exactly how that will be.”