Patients and Visitors

We are committed to providing outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them. If you would like to provide feedback about your experience at Dorset County Hospital, or raise a concern, please visit contact our Patient Experience Team.

Please help us protect our patients and minimise the spread of infection. Do not visit the hospital if you have diarrhoea or vomiting until you have been clear of symptoms for 72 hours (three days). If you are due for an appointment please call the number on your appointment letter to rearrange your appointment.

Please do not visit the hospital if you have symptoms of coronavirus.
NHS information and advice about coronavirus is available here.

Our full visiting guidance is available here.

Hand hygiene

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning, flu and coronavirus. Even if they look clean your hands still carry germs.

All our entrances, hospital wards and clinical areas have alcohol hand gel dispensers available for patients and visitors to use.

Wash your hands with soap and water

• after using the toilet, changing a nappy or handling a potty
• after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose
• after contact with blood or body fluid
• before and after handling raw food like meat and vegetables
• before and after eating or handling food
• before and after treating a cut or wound

How to wash your hands

1. Wet your hands under warm running water.
2. Apply enough soap to cover your hands
3. Rub your hands together vigorously
4. Use one hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the Do the same with the other hand
5. Rub the back of your fingers against your palms
6. Rub your thumb using your other hand. Do the same with the other thumb
7. Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand. Do the same with other hand
8. Rinse your hands under running water
9. Dry your hands completely with a disposable paper towel
10. Use the paper towel or your elbow to turn off the tap to avoid re-contaminating your hands

If you do not have immediate access to soap and water then use the alcohol hand gel dispensers.

If using alcohol gel dispensers

1. Apply one to two squirts of hand rub on your hands.
2. Rub all surfaces of your hands together in a similar manner to steps 3-7 above.
3. Do not wet your hands or wash the hand rub off. The hand rub dries in 20-30 seconds.