News Releases

All our news releases are available as PDFs here.

For more information please contact Communications Manager Susie Palmer on 01305 254683 or e-mail: susie.palmer@dchft.nhs.uk

By year

2009

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

2008

Pioneering keyhole surgery restores surfer's ankle

27 November 2008: Pioneering surgery at Dorset County Hospital has cured a painful sports injury to a surfer’s ankle.

Emergency heart operation saves life

21 November 2008: A new emergency procedure for people suffering heart attacks saved the life of a man from Weymouth

Traditional nursing values improve patient care

11 November 2008: A return to traditional nursing values at Dorset County Hospital has won praise from NHS bosses

Dorset County Hospital rated 'excellent'

16 October 2008: Dorset County Hospital receives an 'excellent' rating in the latest Healthcare Commission Health Check.

First glimpse of new chemotherapy unit

9 October 2008: Link to a Dorset Echo story about fundraisers being shown around the new chemotherapy unit for which they have raised thousands of pounds.

Hospital agrees £12million new build

9 October 2008: Dorset County Hospital agrees plans for a new CT scanner, two new operating theatres and a new endoscopy suite.

Patients can stay awake in surgery

7 August 2008: Link to Dorset Echo story about Dorset County Hospital leading the way in a new technique called ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia.

Hospital in lead role to beat MRSA

19 July 2008: Link to Dorset Echo story about Dorset County Hospital being rated one of the best in the country for cutting MRSA cases.

 
Patient praises DCH on 60th anniversary of NHS

July 2008: NHS patients reflect on the care they have received in a ITV Westcountry News feature. The link above takes you to the ITV website to view the clip.

Generous donation towards new chemo unit

17 June 2008: The Fortuneswell Cancer Trust presents a cheque for £150,000 towards building new chemotherapy unit.

Hospital food is among the finest

23 May 2008: Link to Dorset Echo story about Dorset County Hospital serving some of the best food in the country.

On target for cutting waiting times

20 May 2008: Dorset County Hospital is leading the way in reducing waiting times for patients.

Chewing gum aids recovery from surgery

16 May 2008: Link to Dorset Echo story about a pioneering study at Dorset County Hospital

Mums asked to donate breast milk

13 May 2008: Link to Dorset Echo story about Dorset County Hospital becoming a centre for the National Human Milk Banking Scheme.

Daleks at Dorset County Hospital!

1 April 2008: Link to Dorset Echo story about hi-tech automated cleaning robots at DCH

CCTV success at Dorset County Hospital

12 March 2008: Dorset County Hospital has a message for would-be thieves - steal from us and you will be caught!

Hospital Trust Chairman Reappointed

4 March 2008: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Chairman Robin SeQueira CBE has been reappointed for a three-year tenure.

Building work begins on new chemotherapy unit

28 February 2008: Work has begun on building a new and improved chemotherapy unit for patients at Dorset County Hospital.

Praise for 'excellent' endoscopy unit

19 February 2008: Endoscopy staff receive high praise for their exceptional standards from an independent review body.

Princess Anne opens new renal unit

8 February 2008: HRH The Princess Royal officially opened a new department of Dorset County Hospital's county-wide renal service.

Excellent maternity services

25 January 2008: Dorset County Hospital's maternity unit rated 'best performing' in national review of maternity care.

2007

Hospital celebrates staff achievements

28 November 2007: Outstanding achievements and years of dedication recognised at annual staff awards.

Praise for maternity care at Dorset County Hospital

26 November 2007: Mums place Dorset County Hospital's maternity service among the best in the country.

C diff decreasing at Dorset County Hospital

1 November 2007: Hospital making significant progress in reducing cases of clostridium difficile infection on wards.

Trust welcomes new Non-executive Director

23 October 2007: Army Major Peter Knell joins the Trust Board.

Continuing high quality care at Dorset County Hospital

18 October 2007: Hospital is praised for the quality of its patient services in the latest hospital performance ratings.

Recruitment drive for orthopaedics theatre staff

16 October 2007: Recruitment days for specialist staff to run enhanced orthopaedics service.

Hospital Annual General Meeting

5 September 2007: Public invited to AGM on 25 September in Children's Centre.

New angioplasty service at Dorset County Hospital

15 August 2007: Major new service launched for patients requiring life-saving heart treatment.

Pedal power raises money for renal patients

27 June 2007: Healthcare assistant takes on the challenge of the Vietnam Cycle Ride.

Job opportunities for nursing assistants

26 June 2007: July job fair for prospective nursing assistants.

Pioneering Cancer Treatment

18 June 2007: New procedure improves cancer treatment.

Members’ Council Inaugural Meeting

23 May 2007: 31 council members attend inaugural meeting on 22 May.

CCTV at Dorset County Hospital

29 January 2007: State of the art system due for April 2007 completion.

Foundation Trust Membership Recruitment

24 January 2007: Recruitment process begins for Members Council.

Appointment of Special Financial Advisor to Board

8 January 2007: Peta Turnbull welcomed to the Board.