"The board itself is very supportive of option one which would see services retained at Christchurch Hospital and indeed other services developed there, " he added.

BBC: Debate over Christchurch hospital proposals

Members of the public were due to meet Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital Trust chief executive Tony Spotswood at the meeting, in Christchurch's civic centre from 1800 BST.

BBC: Debate over Christchurch hospital proposals

His lecturer, Dr Geoff Case, had earlier met with Dr Geoff Shaw, an intensive care specialist at Christchurch Hospital, who had told him about the inherent problems in managing critically ill patients' sedative and pain relief drug dosages.

CNN: Device to save hospitals billions