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Updated 27 November 2024

All our latest news is available below. If you require more information, news from previous years or high-res copies of photos, please email communications@dchft.nhs.uk

2024

Dorset County Hospital continues to provide good emergency care, 27 November 2024 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) is continuing to provide good urgent and emergency care, despite the ongoing pressures faced by Emergency Departments throughout the country.


Procedure room transformed into an operating theatre at DCH, 25 November - A procedure room at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has been transformed into a full operating theatre for Special Care Dentistry and other surgeries.

£2million refurbishment for DCH’s chemotherapy unit, 14 October 2024 - Dorset County Hospital is transforming its Fortuneswell Unit for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Friends of Dorset County Hospital donate more than 1,000 comfort bags to patients, 8 October 2024 - An initiative to support patients who are unexpectedly admitted to hospital is going from strength to strength.

Weymouth Community Hospital theatre upgraded to help DCH reduce waiting lists, 23 September 2024  - An operating theatre at Weymouth Community Hospital has been upgraded to allow Dorset County Hospital (DCH) to perform a range of elective surgeries and reduce waiting lists.

Patients praise standards of care at Dorset County Hospital, 21 August 2024 - Patients have praised the standards of care experienced at Dorset County Hospital. 

An open statement from NHS leaders in Dorset following UK unrest, 9 August 2024

Ridgeway Ward transformed into a dedicated unit for patients having elective orthopaedic surgery, 8 August 2024 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has opened a new dedicated unit for people having orthopaedic surgery.

DCH temporary helipad site receives £13,500 for new lights, 4 June 2024 - Air ambulances will find it easier to land at night in Dorchester, thanks to new and improved lighting from the HELP Appeal.

Hospital receives more than £45,000 to create a sensory garden for patients,  staff and visitors, 30 May 2024 - A sensory courtyard garden is being created at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) thanks to a £45,204 grant from the Greener Communities Fund.

DCH opens new CT scanner suite at Weymouth Community Hospital, 22 May 2024 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has opened a new CT scanner suite in Weymouth as part of a national drive to offer tests closer to home and help shorten waiting lists.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care visits Dorset hospitals, 20 May 2024 - Patients and staff at Dorset hospitals met Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Victoria Atkins when she visited the county last week.

Hospital Governor Election opens for nominations, 7 May 2024 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) is looking for new governors to help shape the future of local services.

Essential maintenance on the multi-storey car park, 18 April 2024 - If you are visiting our hospital this weekend (20 and 21 April), please be aware that our multi-storey car park (MSCP) will be closed for essential maintenance.

Weekend work by entrances, 20 March 2024 -There will be engineering works happening on the hospital site on Saturday (23 March) as part of the Ridgeway Ward refurbishment that will cause some disruption outside North Wing, Entrance 1 and South Wing, Entrance 1.

Dorset County Hospital celebrates apprentice achievements, 21 February 2024 - Apprentices at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) have been recognised at a special new awards ceremony.

New-look Outpatient Assessment Centre opens in the heart of Dorchester, 19 February 2024 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has opened its newly refurbished Outpatient Assessment Centre at South Walks House in Dorchester.

Dorset County Hospital’s maternity service survey results among the best in the region, 9 February 2024 - Women giving birth at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) have praised the high standards of care they and their babies received.

Dorset County Hospital to hold Careers Fair, 16 January 2024 - Interested in a career in the NHS? Dorset County Hospital (DCH) will be holding a Careers Fair on Saturday, 2 March, spotlighting the wide variety of jobs and training opportunities the Trust has to offer. 

2023

Targeted Lung Health Check Service’s first anniversary, 14 December 2023 - Dorset’s new lung screening service is marking its first anniversary, and has already proved hugely successful in identifying conditions much earlier and improving outcomes for patients.

Junior doctor industrial action in December 2023 and January 2024 - Junior doctors are taking industrial action from from 7am on Wednesday 20 December until 7am on Saturday 23 December 2023, and 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January 2024.

Weymouth Research Hub photography competition, 13 December 2023 - Weymouth Research Hub has been brightened up in time for Christmas with help from talented local photographers.

DCH recognised for commitment to patient safety, 12 December 2023 - Dorset County Hospital is celebrating after being named as a National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider after successfully completing a national programme of local data audits.
 
Ward refurbishment to help reduce orthopaedic elective surgery waiting times at DCH, 16 November 2023 -  A ward at Dorset County Hospital is being transformed into dedicated space for people having elective orthopaedic surgery as part of a drive to reduce waiting times. Ridgeway Ward is being refurbished into a 24-bedded ward for orthopaedic elective surgery patients.
 
Enhanced care coming for stroke patients in Dorset, 25 October 2023 - Specialist support services are being introduced in Dorset to help people recover from the debilitating effects of a stroke.
 
Planners give new DCH Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit the green light, 9 October 2023 - Plans to develop the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) site, including a brand-new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, have been given the green light by local planners.
 
Patients praise care they received at Dorset County Hospital, 30 September 2023 - Patients have praised the level the care experienced at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
 
Join us for our Annual General Meeting and Annual Members’ Meeting - Our next Annual General Meeting and Annual Members' Meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 September in the Education Centre at Dorset County Hospital.
 
New Discharge Lounge opens to Dorset County Hospital patients, 16 August 2023 - A new Discharge Lounge for patients who are ready to leave hospital has opened at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
 
Patients report good emergency care at Dorset County Hospital, 26 July 2023 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) is continuing to provide good urgent and emergency care despite the unprecedented pressures faced by Emergency Departments throughout the country.
 
View the latest plans for new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, 8 July 2023 - Following outline planning permission being granted in January 2023, the latest designs for Dorset County Hospital's new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit have now been submitted to Dorset Council.
 
New centre of excellence for the care of older patients officially opened, 30 June 2023 - Two wards at Dorset County Hospital have merged to create a centre of excellence for the care of older people.
 
New car parking and payment system to go live, 23 June 2023 - A new car parking system for patients, staff and visitors will come into operation at Dorset County Hospital on Monday 3 July.
 
Reaction to the Health Secretary's announcement on the New Hospital Programme, 25 May 2023 - The Government has reiterated its commitment to deliver the schemes, which include a brand new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit at Dorset County Hospital.
 
Hospital helipad landing site to temporarily move ahead of construction works, 18 May 2023 - The helicopter landing site at Dorset County Hospital will temporarily move to allow enabling works and construction of the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit to take place.
 
Friends of Dorset County Hospital donate comfort bags for patients, 12 May 2023 - Patients who are unexpectedly admitted to hospital with no belongings will now receive a free comfort bag, thanks to the Friends of Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
 
Joint Chair appointed for Dorset County Hospital and Dorset HealthCare, 14 April 2023 - Dorset County Hospital and Dorset HealthCare have appointed David Clayton-Smith as their new Joint Chair.
 
Mask guidance change at Dorset County Hospital, 5 April 2023 - The wearing of masks will no longer be mandatory in most clinical areas at Dorset County Hospital from 11 April 2023.
 
How you can help your local NHS during planned industrial action, 5 April 2023 - The NHS in Dorset is asking people to choose the right services for their needs as planned industrial action takes place.
 
Ward teams create new centre of excellence for the care of older patients, 28 March 2023 - Two wards at Dorset County Hospital are merging to create a centre of excellence for the care of older people.
 
Flooding at Dorset County Hospital, 24 March 2023 - There has been a flood in our hospital overnight. The Emergency Department has been affected and the incident is being managed with the support of our partner hospitals - University Hospitals Dorset, Dorset Healthcare, Yeovil Hospital and Salisbury District Hospital.
 
New discharge lounge building to be delivered next week, 23 March 2023 - People coming to Dorset County Hospital next week are being advised to allow for extra time, as sections of the new modular discharge lounge will arrive on site from Monday (27 March).
 
Join the DCH Activity Squad and help support patients’ wellbeing, 6 March 2023 - Could you spend as few hours a week playing games or doing puzzles with patients at Dorset County Hospital (DCH)?
 
Dorset County Hospital secures £2million to improve its discharge facilities, 3 March 2023 - Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has secured £2millon to help free up hospital beds by creating a new, larger discharge lounge facility.
 
DCH staff deployed to help people in Ukraine, 24 February 2023 - We recently welcomed home two members of #TeamDCH from Lviv in Ukraine following a deployment with frontline medical aid charity UK-Med. Biomedical Scientist Andy Walbridge and Physiotherapist Lauren Eve voluntarily registered with the charity and were asked to go and help provide medical care, training and support to the people of Ukraine.
 
Response to CQC report on services for children and young people with mental health issues, learning disabilities or autism, 17 February 2023 - Dorset County Hospital has recognised areas for improvement and stressed the importance of partner agencies working closely together following a focussed Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection around children and young people with mental health issues, learning disabilities or autism.
 
Dorset County Hospital receives £2million donation for a new helipad, 8 February 2023 - Plans to build a new helipad at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) have taken a major step forward thanks to a £2million pledge from the HELP Appeal – the only charity in the country that funds NHS hospital helipads.
 
Outline plans to develop hospital site approved, 16 January 2023 - Outline plans to develop the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) site have been approved by Dorset Council. The Trust’s Your Future Hospital programme sets out plans to expand facilities on the site in Dorchester and help meet increasing demand.
 
Maternity Service achieves best survey results in the country, 13 January 2023 - Dorset County Hospital’s Maternity Service continues to provide high standards of care, according to the latest national survey results.
 
Dorset County Hospital is incredibly busy, 3 January 2023 - Our Emergency Department is incredibly busy as we enter the New Year. Our focus is making sure our patients are safe and that we keep our critical services running.