Your Future Hospital
It’s an exciting time at Dorset County Hospital as we move forward with plans to expand and improve our facilities over the next few years. Here you can read more about the projects that are underway on site. If you have any questions, email YourFutureHospital@dchft.nhs.uk
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 £2.5M Appeal is also raising funds for enhanced facilities in the new building to make patient care and staff wellbeing even better.
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
We have refurbished our existing Emergency Department (ED) to help improve the space while we develop plans to build a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.
Our Long-term Masterplan
Our masterplan sets the long-term vision for how we would like to develop our hospital site over the next few years. 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, a new and improved entrance and hospital support centre for non-clinical staff to use.