EAST Dorset's two major hospital trusts have pulled out of a scheme to set up two privatised regional "supercentres" for sterilising medical equipment.

The Royal Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals are among four NHS trusts in the south west to decide against the move. The county's third acute hospital, Dorset County in Dorchester, is still considering its position.

The news has been welcomed by Unison, which has been campaigning against the plans for the last six months with another trade union, Unite, and the Royal College of Nursing.

It warned that patients' lives could be put at risk if supercentres did not properly decontaminate and sterilise surgical instruments.

Graham Parish, regional organiser for Unison South West, said: "I am delighted. We understand that this means that the supercentre model cannot proceed.

"It would create real risks of delays and damage to equipment and would not provide any real benefit to the health service, either in terms of cost or quality."

The union is now calling on the Department of Health to plough the £1 million per trust earmarked for the supercentres into inhouse sterilisation services.

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust will continue using its site in Alderney. Finance director Stuart Hunter said: "It has been an unsettling time for our staff. I would like to thank them for their commitment to provide sterile services within our hospitals which has ensured the continued high quality treatment that our patients can expect."

A spokeswoman for Poole Hospital said: "We have made the decision to stay with our in-house facilities for the sterilisation of surgical equipment. These facilities have just gained accreditation for a further four years.

"While it was appropriate to look at other options, we believe this decision is the right one."