Mary Anning Unit
The Mary Anning Unit brings together the former Barnes and Day Lewis Wards
These two wards at Dorset County Hospital merged in April 2023 to create a centre of excellence for the care of older people.
Barnes Ward and Day Lewis Ward have come together as the ‘Mary Anning Unit’. The ward teams chose to name their new unit in recognition of the pioneering achievements of celebrated local palaeontologist Mary Anning. The staff are proud that this is the first unit at Dorset County Hospital to be named after a woman.
The new specialist unit meets the complex care needs of frail older people in an environment that promotes multi-professional support and training.
Each bed on the unit has a dedicated space for each patient to have a chair, table and locker to store clothing and medications in at their bedside.
Although the unit has both male and female patients, the bays are same sex occupancy. We have some single occupancy cubicles which are used for a variety of reasons, some of which have their own dedicated bathroom and shower. We do offer separate wash facilities and toilets for male and female patients.
The Mary Anning Unit is located on Level 3 South Wing. If you enter the hospital via South Entrance 2, take the lift up to the third floor and follow the corridor round to the right. If you enter via South Entrance 1, take the stairs up two flights and round to the right.
The unit is locked to ensure the safety of patients so anyone visiting will need to use the intercom.
A day room is available for patients to use. The day room helps support patients with their recovery and wellbeing with a number of activities organised throughout the week by dedicated day room staff and/or volunteers.
We ask that you bring in any medications you take regularly, any toiletries that you will use and both day and night clothes and shoes as this helps to maintain a routine and sense of day and night while in hospital. If you are unable to bring them in with you, then we will ask a family member or friends to bring them in at the next available opportunity.
Please don't hesitate to speak to the staff on the unit if you have any questions or concerns.