Dorset County Hospital Nhs Foundation Trust

Our Director of Nursing and Quality, Nicky Lucey, wanted to give this message this #InternationalNursesDay 👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️ We want to take this moment to say a massive thank you to all our wonderful nursing staff at #TeamDCH! We would be lost without you! #ThankYouNurses

A hidden gem in our art collection at the Trust is a special series of 20 images by renowned Magnum photographer Martin Parr, commissioned 20 years ago by Arts in Hospital.
For this commission he spent a summer photographing the different coastal villages and beaches, focusing his camera lens on markets and fetes as well as capturing typical homes and allotments. His interest is in revealing the unique and special nature of ordinary places and people.
Parr's work is celebrate...d globally and is currently exhibiting at the National Portrait Gallery in London!
We are hugely proud to display his quirky angled, colourful 'Close-up of Dorset' at DCH. Check them out in South Wing, Level 2 in the corridor outside of Illchester Ward.
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Our young patients are loving being able to drive themselves to surgery in our new electric car (donated by Tesla Owners UK). It's clearly making such a positive difference! Well done to our amazing staff in Kingfisher who are doing a fantastic job, especially in keeping both parents at their children feeling comfortable and at ease! #FeedbackFriday #FridayFeeling

Today marks #WorldLupusDay. Lupus is an incurable immune system illness, probably genetic in origin and mainly suffered by females. It can affect any part of the body and that's the danger.

A massive congratulations to Naveed Afzal, Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon at #TeamDCH. He was awarded the most inspiring academic award by UROCON 2019 for his outstanding contribution in the field of robotic surgery for prostate cancer patients. 👏👏👏

It was lovely to see our catering staff recognised for all their hard work in our latest Inpatient Survey results, with our hospital food coming out as a core strength at #TeamDCH!
More than 85% of patients rated their experience as a 7/10 or more, 98% felt they were treated with dignity and respect and 96% said they had confidence and trust in our doctors.
A fantastic result! A massive well done to our amazing team here at the Trust! 👏👏👏

This weekend, hundreds of cyclist will be taking on the Coast to Coast Challenge in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance 🚁
Will you be going along to support them? Last year the event raised more than £62,000 for the life-saving charity! Can we beat that this year?
The ever-popular event is renowned for being an emotional and inspiring day out for everyone involved. That’s no surprise given the fact that the cyclists include patients who have experienced the work of the ...air ambulance first-hand and those who take part in memory of a loved one. Others get involved as part of a team or simply want to challenge themselves and support the Charity in return.
For more information or to donate, visit www.dsairambulance.org.uk/c2c/donate
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Our amazing Arts in Hospital department have been nominated for a chance to win £1,000 to help continue their fantastic work throughout our Trust - they just need your votes!
The charity number is 1056479 and and in the 'why are you nominating this charity' section, voters need to state the funds are specifically for Arts In Hospital and why you think it is important to DCH.
The money would go towards things such as art materials for our volunteers to use in our crafts trolley, live theatre and music performances.You can vote here: https://www.ecclesiasti…/movement-for-g ood/nominate-a-charity/

A massive well done to everyone who took part in the Dorchester Lions Fun Run and 10k Run at the weekend! We're so grateful to the Lions, who have agreed to donate half the proceeds to the Friends of Dorset County Hospital's fundraising initiative for a new ultrasound machine for our Respiratory Department! Here's some of #TeamDCH at the event!

It's #BankHolidayMonday so we thought you would enjoy this heartwarming video of Neil Valentine from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performing for some of our dialysis patients. Thanks to Arts in Hospital, Neil has been performing at bedsides and in day rooms for nearly two years!

Please #choosewell this #BankHolidayMonday 🏥

Good luck to all the runners taking part in Dorchester Lions' 2K Fun Run and 10K Run today! Thank you again to the Lions 🦁 for choosing the Friends of Dorset County Hospital as one of the beneficiaries of the event! Our Friends are on a mission to raise £17,000 for a new ultrasound machine for our Respiratory Department so this support is very much appreciated!

The #BankHolidayWeekend is here! Remember, pharmacists provide fast advice and over-the-counter medicines to treat many common conditions. If you need to see a GP over the #BankHoliday, they'll advise you. Only use A&E for life-threatening emergencies. #StayWellDorset #ChooseWell

The spotlight is on our Emergency Department for this week's #FeedbackFriday! Our staff work incredibly hard, often under very demanding circumstances as A&E can get incredibly busy at times. A shout out to Jo and Liz who are clearly doing an amazing job! Well done #TeamDCH! 🏥

A massive congratulations to Sarah on her very brave 15,000ft skydive! So far, Sarah's raised more than £1,800 for our Chemotherapy Appeal and we cannot thank her enough! See what Sarah experienced in these videos 😲 https://bit.ly/2VKTCBT https://bit.ly/2WmtFpi
... You can still donate to Sarah here: https://bit.ly/2XZwKMk
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We're so grateful that Dorchester Lions have decided to support the Friends of Dorset County Hospital's fundraising initiative to raise £17,000 for a new ultrasound machine for our Respiratory Department. The Lions are holding their 2K Fun Run and 10k Run this Sunday from 10.30am so why not get involved? 🏃

This week we held a little celebration to welcome all our new nurses from overseas! Some have been here since September and others have only just very recently arrived to join #TeamDCH! They are an amazing group who are all working very hard. They all received a certificate signed by our chairman and enjoyed plenty of tea and cake!

Amazing news! You Go Girls! 👊

This summer DCH will be hosting its first Summer Spectacular! It will be held on the former Damers School field next to the hospital on Saturday 6 July from 2pm until 5pm.
It will be a traditional fete with stalls and games, as well as a performance arena and a grand raffle - fun for all the family!
As a result of the success of the Cancer Appeal​, the Trust now plans to upgrade the hospital's existing Chemotherapy Unit in line with the quality of outpatient and radiotherapy services now available in the Robert White Centre. The Summer Spectacular will therefore be raising funds for the Chemotherapy Appeal as well as other good causes!

While on holiday in Weymouth, my brother who is fighting brain cancer had five seizures whilst at breakfast which isn’t normal for him- we called emergency services. They arrived within minutes, successfully sedated him & ensured he had sufficient airway & oxygen pumping and transported him to the Dorchester hospital- the doctors and nurses were first class,keeping him well and finding that he had suffered a bleed in his brain- treatment was excellent- thank you to everyone that treated my brother as he is now home recovering

We went in on Friday evening when my partner went in to labour and the care we received before, during and after was impeccable, I can't rate the midwifes, nurses and doctors highly enough. Anyone who's unsure about which hospital to go to I would say Dorchester without a doubt!

We recently spent a week in the maternity unit at DCH. I could not be more thankful for every single member of staff there. They were amazing. They kept us fully informed the whole way we never worried about what was going on and they could not have done more for us. Nothing was a problem. They clearly enjoy what they are doing and should never be taken for granted.



On another note whilst I we were there I saw two men (parking attendents) arguing with one person about a parking ticket but not one person was challenged about the ridiculous amount of staff and public stood by open windows and doors smoking on a self proclaimed smoke free site. I feel there may be an issue there that need a to be addressed.

The staff in the DSU made what could be a very stressful day a breeze- I cannot thank the staff enough for the service and care I was offered while I was there today and every other time I have been to the hospital- a massive shout out to Michelle you made me so at ease and super friendly (everybody else was too) I cannot thank you all enough Xxxxx

Thank you for answering my message this morning and keeping me up to date on my appointment this morning. And a big thank you to your staff for managing to get in to do my MRI. It’s very appreciated especially in such snowy weather and on a Sunday!

My wife just moved to moreton ward what a fantastic place every single nurse will do anything they can to help.especially lavinia and linda 2 shinning examples of what nurseing is all about they dont just help the patients but bend over backwards to help relatives as well never too busy to help or answer any questions and every single nurse from jnr to snr are all marvelous wrll done one and all

Much as it was lovely whilst it lasted the timing couldn’t have been worse for my family - have never been so relieved to see rain in my life !! �� there are some EXCEPTIONAL people out there - many of whom work for our emergency services and NHS - I am personally more grateful than I can put into words for each and every one of them - they are the real HEROES ����



In the middle of all the snow and ice chaos when we were all stranded in our homes my parents had to call an ambulance as Mum needed to get to DCH on the advice of the GP - the ambulance crew came from Bridport - slipping and sliding down the driveway - delivered Mum safely to A&E where the already overstretched staff assessed her and managed to get her in a side ward quickly (many of the staff had been at the hospital since the snow started and didn’t even know when cover might arrive) she was then taken to an already full ward again staffed by nurses who had been forced to spend the night at DCH but still taking care of the patients. We then had the dilemma of getting Dad home from Dorchester - and again - above and beyond - A Line taxi’s were the only firm operating but turned up as arranged to get Dad safely home as we couldn’t even get out the house due to the ice �



Poor Dad got home to no heating due to the frozen condenser pipe but thankfully the warmer weather today has resolved this !



Mum continues to make good progress at DCH but I just wanted to say the biggest THANK YOU to everyone for yesterday - I couldn’t be more grateful to each and every one xx

I'm laying in the hospital bed as I write this . Iv been here since Sunday afternoon . As a Tree decided to fall in front of me . While i was on my motorbike . And I hit the tree . . I found out I have a broken neck and damaged my spinal ligaments. I have to say that this hospital is the best one iv been too . Amazing food . I'm glad I was brought here .

I was at the hospital because of my eyes are getting bad, the eye department was busy, felt hectic but was like a well oiled machine, the staff worked non stop, calling out our names, then putting us through the various procedures and then too the consultant how was good and precise, the staff was great as the consultant, the only downside was the poor staff did not have enough rooms, they struggled sometimes to find a spare room, but overall the staff was great, thank you

I was admitted to Abbotsbury ward at midday to on 10th January after the a nurse operation on and straight away and I could tell the patient she where she was well looked after I was there until she midday on the Friday and can't really say enough about the staff first class all the way I'm not good with names but the 2 I remember is the are jess and new girl Megan thank you all xxx

I have just had a new knee in Dorset County hospital and have to say all the staff were amazing....they looked after me well and the staff on ridgeway ward were lovely taking care of all my needs...phisio staff were very happy positive and helped me get back on my feet again...the food was very good considering they are on a budget.....and all in all everyone was very helpful and attentive.....and though they r short staffed and very busy day and night....my experience was a good one ..although my knee op was quite painful they made sure I had painkillers at all times when needed......

I had to come in today as an emergency (and am out of area as I am on holiday) with an erosion on my cornea and I cannot thank the wonderful staff enough. Everyone was so lovely and friendly in a very very busy hospital and looked after me so well. Thank you all. Why do people slate the wonderful NHS x

I attended the hospital to have a sinus operation done. Was made to feel relaxed and welcome from the minute I entered. The whole process was very well organised, all the staff were lovely. Nothing was too much trouble ever. The hospital was spotless. As someone who hates hospitals and was petrified about having the op done my experience of the hospital was extremely positive.

I attended the REI today with my parents, my father had a few eye tests carried out. We saw three lovely nurses, one of which was Sal Rogers I think, (I’m sorry I can’t remember the names of the other two). They were all very patient with him, as he can be a little grumpy at times, due to the constant pain he is in. I would be grateful if you could pass on my gratitude to them all. On personal experience with the NHS the people do a wonderful job.

How lucky are we in this country to have such a wonderful service when we are at our lowest ebb. Thank you to everyone on Purbeck ward and the marvellous doctors who fixed my son s broken ankle even though we had to wait three days to get a bed due to cuts I presume.

Had to take my son to A&E on Wednesday night, 19th July. Received excellent service from very friendly and efficient staff. The Spanish (forgive me if I am mistaken) doctor who dealt with my son and I was superb with a lovely manner. The lady on reception was very friendly and the nurse that triaged us was great and very efficient. Many thanks.

A weekend trip to A&E - Sat 26/05/18

So thorough, covering every eventuality. Everything was explained and time given for any queries. Great to see the constant level of cleanliness, from both housekeeping and clinical. Efficient, professional and great communication between all levels of staff. Thank you for everything �

Edit - Thank you for taking it seriously and I was amazed that the complaint got dealt with so quickly. The matron visited us at the end and talked it through and although I didn't want to take it any further, I'm pleased it was acknowledged. I've boosted the rating from 1 to 4 stars as I do appreciate it this.



------

Sat in a and e with Justina and can't believe how rude and miserable the staff are here. Even worse, they think it's funny to laugh about it and say I'm joking. Not a place to joke and when the nurse sits there watching mum struggle to unwrap her bandage, offering no assistance, I honestly wonder what their training was like. Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, I'm appalled.

Ive just got out of a 2 day stay at Dorch hospital after discharging myself. An appalling hospital. A doctor that had no interest in his patients what so ever that he never came tm see me and read my notes instead. When i demanded to see him he came and didnt even know my name. Didnt examine me but made a diagnosis by starring at me. Ask for pain relief and get forgotton about. I will be travelling back to Guildford hospital rather then go there!!

While on holiday in Weymouth, my brother who is fighting brain cancer had five seizures whilst at breakfast which isn’t normal for him- we called emergency services. They arrived within minutes, successfully sedated him & ensured he had sufficient airway & oxygen pumping and transported him to the Dorchester hospital- the doctors and nurses were first class,keeping him well and finding that he had suffered a bleed in his brain- treatment was excellent- thank you to everyone that treated my brother as he is now home recovering

We went in on Friday evening when my partner went in to labour and the care we received before, during and after was impeccable, I can't rate the midwifes, nurses and doctors highly enough. Anyone who's unsure about which hospital to go to I would say Dorchester without a doubt!

We recently spent a week in the maternity unit at DCH. I could not be more thankful for every single member of staff there. They were amazing. They kept us fully informed the whole way we never worried about what was going on and they could not have done more for us. Nothing was a problem. They clearly enjoy what they are doing and should never be taken for granted.



On another note whilst I we were there I saw two men (parking attendents) arguing with one person about a parking ticket but not one person was challenged about the ridiculous amount of staff and public stood by open windows and doors smoking on a self proclaimed smoke free site. I feel there may be an issue there that need a to be addressed.

The staff in the DSU made what could be a very stressful day a breeze- I cannot thank the staff enough for the service and care I was offered while I was there today and every other time I have been to the hospital- a massive shout out to Michelle you made me so at ease and super friendly (everybody else was too) I cannot thank you all enough Xxxxx

Thank you for answering my message this morning and keeping me up to date on my appointment this morning. And a big thank you to your staff for managing to get in to do my MRI. It’s very appreciated especially in such snowy weather and on a Sunday!

My wife just moved to moreton ward what a fantastic place every single nurse will do anything they can to help.especially lavinia and linda 2 shinning examples of what nurseing is all about they dont just help the patients but bend over backwards to help relatives as well never too busy to help or answer any questions and every single nurse from jnr to snr are all marvelous wrll done one and all

Much as it was lovely whilst it lasted the timing couldn’t have been worse for my family - have never been so relieved to see rain in my life !! �� there are some EXCEPTIONAL people out there - many of whom work for our emergency services and NHS - I am personally more grateful than I can put into words for each and every one of them - they are the real HEROES ����



In the middle of all the snow and ice chaos when we were all stranded in our homes my parents had to call an ambulance as Mum needed to get to DCH on the advice of the GP - the ambulance crew came from Bridport - slipping and sliding down the driveway - delivered Mum safely to A&E where the already overstretched staff assessed her and managed to get her in a side ward quickly (many of the staff had been at the hospital since the snow started and didn’t even know when cover might arrive) she was then taken to an already full ward again staffed by nurses who had been forced to spend the night at DCH but still taking care of the patients. We then had the dilemma of getting Dad home from Dorchester - and again - above and beyond - A Line taxi’s were the only firm operating but turned up as arranged to get Dad safely home as we couldn’t even get out the house due to the ice �



Poor Dad got home to no heating due to the frozen condenser pipe but thankfully the warmer weather today has resolved this !



Mum continues to make good progress at DCH but I just wanted to say the biggest THANK YOU to everyone for yesterday - I couldn’t be more grateful to each and every one xx

I'm laying in the hospital bed as I write this . Iv been here since Sunday afternoon . As a Tree decided to fall in front of me . While i was on my motorbike . And I hit the tree . . I found out I have a broken neck and damaged my spinal ligaments. I have to say that this hospital is the best one iv been too . Amazing food . I'm glad I was brought here .

I was at the hospital because of my eyes are getting bad, the eye department was busy, felt hectic but was like a well oiled machine, the staff worked non stop, calling out our names, then putting us through the various procedures and then too the consultant how was good and precise, the staff was great as the consultant, the only downside was the poor staff did not have enough rooms, they struggled sometimes to find a spare room, but overall the staff was great, thank you

I was admitted to Abbotsbury ward at midday to on 10th January after the a nurse operation on and straight away and I could tell the patient she where she was well looked after I was there until she midday on the Friday and can't really say enough about the staff first class all the way I'm not good with names but the 2 I remember is the are jess and new girl Megan thank you all xxx

I have just had a new knee in Dorset County hospital and have to say all the staff were amazing....they looked after me well and the staff on ridgeway ward were lovely taking care of all my needs...phisio staff were very happy positive and helped me get back on my feet again...the food was very good considering they are on a budget.....and all in all everyone was very helpful and attentive.....and though they r short staffed and very busy day and night....my experience was a good one ..although my knee op was quite painful they made sure I had painkillers at all times when needed......

I had to come in today as an emergency (and am out of area as I am on holiday) with an erosion on my cornea and I cannot thank the wonderful staff enough. Everyone was so lovely and friendly in a very very busy hospital and looked after me so well. Thank you all. Why do people slate the wonderful NHS x

I attended the hospital to have a sinus operation done. Was made to feel relaxed and welcome from the minute I entered. The whole process was very well organised, all the staff were lovely. Nothing was too much trouble ever. The hospital was spotless. As someone who hates hospitals and was petrified about having the op done my experience of the hospital was extremely positive.

I attended the REI today with my parents, my father had a few eye tests carried out. We saw three lovely nurses, one of which was Sal Rogers I think, (I’m sorry I can’t remember the names of the other two). They were all very patient with him, as he can be a little grumpy at times, due to the constant pain he is in. I would be grateful if you could pass on my gratitude to them all. On personal experience with the NHS the people do a wonderful job.

How lucky are we in this country to have such a wonderful service when we are at our lowest ebb. Thank you to everyone on Purbeck ward and the marvellous doctors who fixed my son s broken ankle even though we had to wait three days to get a bed due to cuts I presume.

Had to take my son to A&E on Wednesday night, 19th July. Received excellent service from very friendly and efficient staff. The Spanish (forgive me if I am mistaken) doctor who dealt with my son and I was superb with a lovely manner. The lady on reception was very friendly and the nurse that triaged us was great and very efficient. Many thanks.

A weekend trip to A&E - Sat 26/05/18

So thorough, covering every eventuality. Everything was explained and time given for any queries. Great to see the constant level of cleanliness, from both housekeeping and clinical. Efficient, professional and great communication between all levels of staff. Thank you for everything �

Edit - Thank you for taking it seriously and I was amazed that the complaint got dealt with so quickly. The matron visited us at the end and talked it through and although I didn't want to take it any further, I'm pleased it was acknowledged. I've boosted the rating from 1 to 4 stars as I do appreciate it this.



------

Sat in a and e with Justina and can't believe how rude and miserable the staff are here. Even worse, they think it's funny to laugh about it and say I'm joking. Not a place to joke and when the nurse sits there watching mum struggle to unwrap her bandage, offering no assistance, I honestly wonder what their training was like. Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, I'm appalled.

Ive just got out of a 2 day stay at Dorch hospital after discharging myself. An appalling hospital. A doctor that had no interest in his patients what so ever that he never came tm see me and read my notes instead. When i demanded to see him he came and didnt even know my name. Didnt examine me but made a diagnosis by starring at me. Ask for pain relief and get forgotton about. I will be travelling back to Guildford hospital rather then go there!!