ANY threat to a community hospital is always emotive.
Much-loved, local and reassuringly personal to patients and their families, changes to them are always fiercely resisted.
The recent closure of the beds at Portland Hospital is a typical and understandable example.
The decision was deeply regrettable, but unavoidable.
At a public meeting on the island that I organised in July, the NHS chief executive responsible for community hospitals explained that he was unable to recruit the staff to ensure the safety of patients.
Instead, all resources would be moved to nearby Westhaven.
Crucially, Ron Shields emphasised that Portland Hospital would not close.
With this reassurance ringing in my ears, I was disappointed to see last week's meeting of the Dorset HealthCare Board so misrepresented in a new online blog from a local pressure group, which stated the hospital would be sold off.
Naturally, I once again sought Mr Shield’s advice.
He told me: “There is no plan to sell Portland Hospital. At the meeting, which is not reported in the blog, the Board discussed the engagement meetings with the people of Portland to plan for NHS services on the island.
“The Portland Hospital site will be part of those discussions and the site could possibly be used as a new hub for the island, or for the site of the care home, or for other health services.”
I do hope this clarification calms islanders’ concerns.
They will now be fully engaged in future plans and these should not be undermined by unfounded rumours, least of all political ones.
As I have said before, the NHS does not belong to any one person or Party.
In challenging times, future healthcare provision must be discussed honestly and transparently.
Spreading fake news is not the way to do that.