Friends of Dorset County Hospital
The Friends were founded in 1956 to provide comfort and help to the patients of the Dorset County Hospital, and their relatives and friends, by providing facilities and equipment not available through National Health Service funding.
The Friends volunteers run the hospital shop and trolley service.
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Message from the Friends
We were founded nearly 50 years ago to provide comfort and help to patients at the old Dorset County Hospital, their relatives and friends. Today’s modern hospital is very different, but our volunteers still do what we were set up to do back in 1956, providing facilities and equipment that are not available through NHS funding.
You’ll see our volunteers around the hospital every day of the year. We run the hospital shop and the café bar. We also run a ward trolley service, and of course, we raise money.
Anyone who wants to support the work of the hospital can join the Friends for just £5 a year (£1 if you are a volunteer). If you or a loved one have been cared for at Dorset County Hospital it’s a good way of giving something back. We are also grateful for donations and we are always delighted to hear from people who can spare some free time to work around the hospital or help us with fund–raising. We also welcome new committee members.
To find out more email us or telephone Sharon Merritt on 01305 255896.
The Hospital Shop
The Friends run a shop at Dorset County Hospital on Level 1, North Wing. We sell a wide range of items including:
- snacks
- drinks
- newspapers
- magazines
- toiletries
- greetings cards
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 4pm.
Weekends: Closed.

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