Your Future Hospital
We have a plan to expand and improve our facilities over the next few years. Here you can read more about improvements that have already been made or are underway.
New Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit
The new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit (CrCU) will be built on part of the site of the former Damers School building as part of the Government's New Hospital Programme. DCH Charity’s £2.5million appeal is also raising funds for enhanced facilities in the new building to make patient care and staff wellbeing even better.
Fortuneswell Unit refurbishment
We are transforming its Fortuneswell Unit for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.Funded by the Trust and money raised from Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Chemotherapy Appeal, the refurbishment will include a revised layout with more space and an outdoor courtyard space for patients and their loved ones. We hope this will make a difference to patients undergoing cancer treatment
Outpatient Assessment Centre at South Walks House
Two floors of South Walks House in Dorchester have been converted into clinical space. The refurbishment includes outpatient clinics, diagnostics, day case capacity and a procedure room. Funding is also being used to refurbish Ridgeway Ward and turn it into a dedicated space for elective surgery patients. The aim of both these projects is to help reduce waiting times for patients.
New Discharge Lounge
We secured £2millon from NHS England to help free up hospital inpatient beds by creating a new, larger discharge lounge facility.
Multi-storey Car Park
The multi-storey car park has freed up land on the hospital site, giving us the space we need to expand our facilities and improve parking.
Emergency Department Refurbishment
In 2021 we refurbished our existing Emergency Department (ED) to improve the space while we build the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.
Our Masterplan
Our masterplan sets the long-term vision for how we would like to develop our hospital site. As well as the projects that are already underway, we would like to build more key worker housing to help us recruit and retain staff and a new and improved main entrance with improved facilities for patients, staff and visitors.