News Releases

All our latest news releases are available as PDFs here.

For more information please contact the Communications Department on 01305 254683 or 254645, or e-mail: communications@dchft.nhs.uk

 

Cancer Ward plans move forward

27 January 2012: Plans to create a dedicated ward for cancer inpatients at DCH are a step closer with the start of a further project to reconfigure beds

Hospital launches strategic direction document

12 January 2012: Trust outlines its commitment to continuously improving the care it provides and exceeding patients' expectations. Click here to read the document

New dedicated women's unit at DCH

10 January 2012: Patient feedback leads to a new dedicated area for female patients

Hospital cafe opened by Dorchester Mayor

3 January 2012: Dorchester Mayor Tess James officially opens hospital's refurbished cafe

'No excuse' project wins royal award

13 December 2011: DCH emergency medicine consultant Dr Rob Torok receives award on behalf of the Dorset Road Safe Partnership

New patient pager system introduced

2 December 2011: New patient pager system takes the uncertainty out of waiting for outpatient appointments

Monitor signs DCHFT out of breach

18 November 2011: The independent regulator of foundation trusts signs Trust out of breach of authorisation

Hospital Hand Hygiene Week 2011

13 October 2011: Staff hold a host of events to promote the importance of good cleanliness

Staff and volunteers honoured at annual awards

27 September 2011: Hospital staff and volunteers receive recognition for their hard work and dedication

Patient Safety Week

12 September 2011: Chairman launches Patient Safety Week by pledging: 'It starts with me, it starts with the Board.'

Monitor accepts Trust's plans for recovery

15 August 2011: Monitor publishes improved risk ratings for Dorset County Hospital following review of annual plan

Restaurant open for all

5 August 2011: Hospital catering team encouraging members of the public to sample the food on offer in the restaurant

Rapid recovery for hip patients

4 August 2011: Hip replacement patients at Dorset County Hospital are now able to return home within a few days

DCH rated 'excellent' by inspectors

2 August 2011: Dorset County Hospital has received top scores from national assessors for excellence in patient care and facilities

DCH moves forward improvement plans

21 July 2011: Dorset County Hospital is pressing ahead with plans to improve care for patients and save money

Hospital launches staff and volunteer awards

27 June 2011: Patients and relatives asked to nominate outstanding hospital staff and volunteers

Reassurance for hip replacement patients

21 June 2011: DCH has reassured its orthopaedic patients following reports about problems with replacement joints

Parents urged to be aware of diabetes symptoms

15 June 2011: Diabetes specialists raise awareness about the signs of type 1 diabetes in children

Hearing aid clinic service improves

1 June 2011: Patients who attend DCH's hearing aid clinics are set to benefit from an improved service

DCH named as one of the 40Top Hospitals 2011

18 May 2011: Hospital receives national award for outstanding performance

Coeliac Awareness Campaign

19 April 2011: Dietitians will be experiencing first hand what life is like with coeliac disease as part of an awareness campaign

Heart Failure Awareness Day

12 April 2011: Cardiology staff are urging people to watch out for the signs of heart failure as part of a Europe-wide awareness campaign

Visitors asked to help contain norovirus

11 April 2011: Public being asked to help contain spread of vomiting and diarrhoea bug by not visiting unless absolutely necessary

Hospital shortlisted for top award

4 April 2011: DCH has been shortlisted for a national award which recognises excellence in patient care

Hospital backs new online patient visiting room

28 February 2011: Dorset County Hospital endorses new website which helps patients and families keep in touch

Great news for digital mammography appeal

25 February 2011: Dorset Health Trust steps forward with £150,000 to help DCH reach its target for the public appeal to install digital mammography equipment

Dorset County Hospital Charity Asks for Just £1

11 February 2011: Dorset County Hospital's Charitable Fund launches its 2011 Appeal to the public to help raise £500,000 for digital mammography equipment

State-of-the-art patient alert system for DCH

26 January 2011: Patients are set to benefit from a new hi-tech system which monitors their condition and immediately alerts their doctor if they are getting sicker

Card helps people with mental health issues

25 January 2011: A small card is set to make a huge difference in helping people with mental health issues deal with everyday situations

Learning from the death of a child

19 January 2011: Dorset families are being invited to take part in a project to improve support for relatives following the death of a child

Hospital staff honoured for years of dedication

22 December 2010: DCH staff who have clocked up over 1,000 years of service between them were honoured at a Long Service Awards presentation

Top rated maternity services at DCH

21 December 2010: Dorset County Hospital has been rated by mothers as the best in the country for some of its maternity services

Hospital unveils new MRI scanner

10 November 2010: Patients at DCH are now benefitting from the very latest in MRI scanner technology

Ankle team lead the way

26 October 2010: Clinicians at DCH are using pioneering techniques to improve the care of patients undergoing major ankle surgery

Mums praise maternity services

12 October 2010: Dorset County Hospital's maternity unit receives high praise for excellent care in patient survey

Winning the war against infection

6 October 2010: Dorset County Hospital has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to combat 'superbugs'

New era begins at Dorset County Hospital

9 September 2010: The Chairman of Dorset County Hospital promises a new era of openness, transparency and honesty

New cancer unit for Dorset County Hospital

8 September 2010: A dedicated unit for inpatients being treated for cancer is to be created at DCH

Dorset County Hospital on the road to recovery

22 July 2010: DCH is making good progress financially and is predicting breakeven in 2011/12

DCH launches 24/7 thrombolysis service

14 July 2010: Round the clock clot-busting treatment introduced for stroke patients

National clinical audit award for DCH

29 June 2010: Dorset County Hospital wins Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnerships Clinical Audit Award

Hospital appoints Interim Chief Executive

29 June 2010: Sue Sutherland appointed as Interim CEO until permanent Chief Executive arrives

New Chief Executive and Director of Finance Appointed

27 May 2010: DCHFT announces the appointment of its new Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources

Stroke unit volunteers celebrate first anniversary

26 May 2010: A dedicated group of volunteers are making a big difference to stroke patients

Dorset County Hospital Chairman appointed

29 March 2010: Dr Jeffrey Ellwood is confirmed as permanent Chair of Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Dorset County Hospital sets out its recovery plan

18 December 2009: Dorset County Hospital outlines its plans for financial recovery

Hospital ready for the challenges ahead

30 October 2009: Chief Executive says his new team is ready to tackle challenges

Chief Exec reassures community about maternity unit

30 October 2009: Hospital Chief Executive assures local community that maternity unit will not close

Hospital offers new screening for Down's syndrome

14 September 2009: New combined test introduced at Dorset County Hospital for pregnant women

Sexual health clinics given top marks

17 August 2009: Excellent results in patient survey for GUM service

New dementia unit opens at Dorset County Hospital

8 July 2009: Specialist facility opened by bestselling author Minette Walters

New kidney stone treatment ready for increase

July 2009: Cutting edge laser technique for kidney stones

New equipment saves patients' blood

May 2009: Patients undergoing major hip surgery and vascular surgery are less likely to need blood transfusions thanks to new equipment.

Hospital launches National Smile Month in Dorset

19 May 2009: Parents of young children learn top tips from hospital's Oral Health Promotion Team

Hospital selected by national breast cancer study

22 April 2009: Revolutionary breast cancer research is being collated at Dorset County Hospital

Trust welcomes new Non-executive Director

21 April 2009: Tracey Peters joins the Trust Board

Martin Clunes opens new Chemotherapy Unit

7 April 2009: Actor Martin Clunes officially opens Dorset County Hospital's new chemotherapy unit

Charity football match honours tragic loss

6 April 2009: Staff commemorate their colleague Dr Giles Molyneux with a charity football match

Shorter waiting times at Dorset County Hospital

26 March 2009: Dorset County Hospital is the first hospital in Dorset to meet the new NHS standard for waiting time

Foundation Trust Governor Elections

18 March 2009: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Governor positions due for election

Heart implant saves life three times

16 March 2009: The life of an 85-year-old Dorset patient has been saved three times by the latest cardiac device implanted at DCH

Nurse pioneers new approach for A&E admissions

5 March 2009: A nursing sister has created a new procedure for assessing patients with mental health problems

Dorset County Hospital expands osteoporosis clinics

17 February 2009: DCH is to run more bone density scanning clinics for people at risk of brittle bone disease

DCH first in UK to use new blood tracking system

27 January 2009: DCH is the first hospital in England to introduce new technology for scanning and tracking blood for transfusion

Dorset County Hospital to cut energy bills

19 January 2009: DCH is to save £52,000 a year on electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions by an average of 10 per cent

A&E at Dorset County Hospital best in the region

14 January 2009: The accident and emergency department at DCH is the best in the South West and the fourth best in the whole country, patients say