Dorset County Hospital Charity is launching its new £2.5 million Emergency and Critical Care Appeal at the 2023 Dorset County Show.
The Charity’s three-year appeal is funding major enhancements to the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit shortly to commence construction at Dorset County Hospital. The Appeal will fund extra facilities for the new Critical Care Unit such as relatives’ overnight accommodation and a patient garden as well as rest accommodation and welfare facilities for clinical staff. Additional facilities will also be funded for the new Emergency Department. The Appeal will also fund artistically designed elements in both new units to help create a sympathetic and healing environment for the benefit of all.
Dorset County Hospital’s Emergency Department and Critical Care Units require additional capacity to meet current and future demand. To meet this demand, a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit will be built which will significantly increase capacity and transform the experience of the patients who will be treated in these units. Funding has been prioritised by the government’s New Hospital Programme for the construction of this major development.
This project is the largest capital investment at the Dorchester hospital since it opened on the current site in 1998. The development will enable the hospital to create custom built, state-of-the-art facilities in both the Emergency and Critical Care departments which will be of lasting benefit to the population served by Dorset County Hospital.
Dr Steve Meek, Consultant Emergency Physician in the DCH Emergency Department said,
“Last year our Emergency teams looked after over 50,000 patients – the facility was originally built for less than half that number – just 22,000.
“We know that attending the Emergency Department as a patient can be a stressful experience and a cramped layout and crowded waiting areas can create more anxiety. In the new plan both the capacity and layout of the department will be greatly improved.”
Dr David Quick, Consultant in Anaesthetics and Critical Care Medicine said,
“The new Critical Care Unit will provide a facility that is purpose built to enhance the care for patients, to provide families with support and access to their loved ones and provide an environment for the staff to work to their full potential.”
Dorset County Show Chair, Nicki Ralph has selected Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency & Critical Care Appeal as their Charity of the Year. This provided the perfect opportunity for the Charity to launch the new appeal and promote this important project to visitors to this year’s show.
Dorset County Show organiser James Cox said,
“The experiences of our Chair Nicki and her husband have highlighted the fact none of us know when we may need critical care. To have state-of-the-art resources on hand at our local hospital makes us incredibly fortunate. We’re delighted to fundraise for this fantastic cause.”
Simon Pearson, DCH Head of Charity said,
“This is our biggest ever fundraising appeal, which will significantly enhance patient care and staff welfare. To make this appeal successful we need the support of the local community. There will be many opportunities for individuals, community groups and local businesses to support the appeal over the next three years and we invite anyone interested in finding out more to contact us directly.”
To find out more about supporting the DCH Emergency and Critical Care Appeal please visit www.dchcharity.org.uk or email charity@dchft.nhs.uk.
