POOLE'S free health advice service - Healthpoint - has been saved from closure.

Funding for the facility, based in Poole's Central Library, is being withdrawn by NHS Direct at the end of May.

The decision left Healthpoint's future in doubt and the specialist information staff at risk of redundancy.

But Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust (PCT) have teamed up with the Borough of Poole to step in and keep the service running.

Dr Adrian Dawson, director of public health for Bournemouth and Poole, said: "Healthpoint makes a valuable contribution to the health information needs of local residents.

"We are delighted to be able to commission this service from Poole libraries for the next three years at least."

Poole council's health scrutiny committee had written a letter to the PCT urging them to find funding for Healthpoint, which has been in place since 1993.

Cllr Mary Hillman, chairman of the committee, said: "Healthpoint helps thousands of local people and is widely recognised as a unique high quality service for reliable health information.

"We delighted to work in partnership with the PCT to keep this service going for the people of Poole."

Daily Echo readers had expressed their dismay at the news of the possible closure.

Ken Adams, of Parkstone, said the service's ability to get information on health problems was "unsurpassed" and that it was invaluable to pensioners.

In total, Healthpoint's three staff dealt with more than 14,000 enquiries last year.

The service was under threat of closure after NHS Direct chose to end an agreement with Poole council to fund the provision of a health information service.

NHS Direct are focusing their resources on providing a national 24-hour health information service, in line with their national strategy.