CAMPAIGNERS have renewed calls for NHS services to be reinstated at Portland Hospital ahead of the arrival of the asylum seeker barge.

The Bibby Stockholm vessel due at Portland Port in the coming days is to become home to 500 men as part of a Home Office plan.

Among other issues, locals are worried about the impact on health services which are already under strain.

A Multi-Agency Forum (MAF) has been established by Dorset Council. It aims to ensure ‘minimal impact’ on local services, communities and businesses, and is overseeing arrangements for the provision of health services, operational arrangements such as transport and waste, and the safety and security of local residents and the asylum seekers.

A recent meeting organised by Stand Up to Racism called for ‘unity’ in demanding effective local health services. At the meeting it was also agreed to oppose the barge and to offer solidarity and support for refugees who come to south Dorset.

Philip Marfleet from the group said: “The need for proper functioning services on Portland has never been greater. GP surgeries are under enormous pressure and Portland Community Hospital has been stripped of its crucial Minor Injuries Unit and X-ray department.

“Hundreds of people living and working on the barge will need emergency services – and we have a purpose-built hospital that can provide them. At the same time, the Independent Monitoring Board at The Verne Prison has called repeatedly for proper community hospital facilities. Now is the time to restore full services to Portland Hospital, so that it can serve local communities and all those who come to live in Portland.”

The meeting endorsed an open letter to executives of Dorset authorities calling for prompt action to restore key facilities at the hospital.

The meeting also endorsed the Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for a halt to the barge project and supported plans to highlight the role of Portland Port owners Langham Industries.

As reported, the island’s minor injuries unit (MIU) and X-ray facility have been closed since the pandemic due to ongoing staff shortages, after staff were redeployed to support other hospitals around the county. In 2018 all beds were cut from the hospital.

No-one from NHS Dorset was available for comment.

A spokesperson for Dorset HealthCare previously said: “We were forced to close some of our minor injuries units – including the one at Portland Hospital – early in the pandemic to help minimise the spread of the virus and cope with staff absences.

“While restrictions have now eased, these factors remain an issue and we haven’t yet been able to fully restore pre-pandemic opening times.

“We continue to ensure there is face-to-face urgent care provision close to anyone who needs it. Despite the partial closure of Dorset’s MIU network, attendances at available units have markedly increased compared to pre-pandemic levels – with almost 93,000 appointments projected for this year compared with just under 57,000 for the whole of 2019.

“In particular, figures indicate that the activity previously seen at Portland has been absorbed by the nearby Urgent Treatment Centre at Weymouth.”