Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

03/08/2026

We are delighted to have become an approved centre for the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) Immediate Life Support Instructor Course.

Our Education Centre had to undergo a formal inspection and the inspector was highly complementary about our facilities, the quality of our training equipment and our overall approach to learning. This reflects the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in resuscitation education.

Our first course is scheduled for September 2026.

02/08/2026

Our Arts in Hospital team and Nature Recovery Ranger Ruth recently held a cyanotype art workshop outside Damers Restaurant.

Cyanotypes are one of the oldest photographic printing processes in the history of photography. Participants were able to try this quick and simple printing technique and take home their own unique print.🌿

31/07/2026

Some of our Governors and Membership Manager Sarah joined a coffee morning at Weymouth Methodist Church this week. They met with local people and asked them to share their experiences of our services.

30/07/2026

If you're at Buckham Fair this weekend, stop by and say hi to the Dorset County Hospital Charity team!

Proceeds from the event go towards their Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.👇

30/07/2026

Our Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Nurse Shaun Porter is taking on a 700-mile cycling challenge to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research and to raise awareness of the Weymouth Football Club Health Clinic for Men.

Shaun voluntarily runs the clinic as a drop-in session on Thursday afternoons from 3pm to 6pm in the club cafe. He's taking part in the Tom Warren Big Football Cycle in memory of his grandad who was a keen long-distance cyclist and had prostate cancer surgery in later life, and was a big charitable fundraiser.

The cycle route will take participants from Weymouth Football Club to all 22 Southern Division 1 South clubs from 25 August to 4 September.

If you wish to donate, Shaun's Just Giving page is in the comments.

29/07/2026

Our new helipad has been painted and given its markings!

Measuring at approximately 26.4 square metres, the aluminium helideck can hold a massive 8.6 tonnes.

The ‘H’ in the landing circle is at an angle so it is aligned with the approach and departure direction of the helicopter.

A big thank you to the Help Appeal - County Air Ambulance Trust for funding our new helideck!

A 'closed' sign will be placed over the helipad while building work on our new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit continues. In the meantime, air ambulances continue to land on a temporary helipad at the nearby Army Reserve Centre in Dorchester. 🚁

28/07/2026

The Dorset Sunflower Trail opens today!

Grab your ticket for a lovely family day out this summer and help raise money for the Dorset County Hospital Charity.

A big thank you to Maiden Castle Farm for supporting our hospital once again. 🌻

🌻 Tickets now on sale 🌻 The countdown is officially on... the Dorset Sunflower Trail at Maiden Castle Farm opens on Tuesday 28th July, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable summer amongst the sunflowers.

💛 Since launching in 2021, together we've raised an incredible £78,000 for the Dorset County Hospital Charity. This year, we're hoping to reach the amazing milestone of £100,000, and we'd love your help to get us there.

🕚 Open daily from 11am
🌻 Last entry 4pm

Don't forget to keep an eye on our social media too – we'll soon be sharing details of our Sundowner Music Evenings, where you can enjoy live music, beautiful sunsets and the magic of the sunflower fields after hours.

🌻 This year's theme... Love the Buzz 🐝💛

From the excitement of visiting the trail, to the incredible bees enjoying the flowers, and the buzz of raising money for our local hospital, this year's theme celebrates everything we love about the Dorset Sunflower Trail.

🌻 Two trails, endless memories...

💛 Short Trail – Around 10 minutes and suitable for prams, pushchairs and wheelchairs (weather permitting).

💛 Long Trail – Around 30 minutes, taking you deeper into the fields with even more spectacular sunflower views.

You're welcome to enjoy either trail, or both, and stay as long as you like.

🌻 What's on this summer?

🏃 Sunflower Stride (with Tri Counties Trail Running) – Saturday 15th August, raising funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

🌅 Sundowner Evenings – Selected Thursday evenings with live music, a licensed bar and spectacular sunset views.

🎨 Art in the Sunflowers (with Art in Poundbury) - Sunday 2nd August

📚 Story Time in the Sunflowers - times to be confirmed

🧘 Sunflower Yoga and Soundbath Yoga - dates to be confirmed

📸 Photography Competition (with Seven Springs Studio) and countless photo opportunities around the trail

🎲 Traditional wooden family games, handcrafted by Dorchester Timber, for children (and grown-ups!) to enjoy.

🍰 Delicious local food & drink from local businesses. Plus plenty of places to sit, relax and soak up the atmosphere.

🌻 Visit the Sunshine Shack, where you'll find freshly cut sunflowers, beautiful gifts from local artisans and exclusive Dorset Sunflower Trail souvenirs.

🎟️ Tickets: £6 per person | Under 5s go FREE
👉 www.maidencastlefarm.co.uk/sunflower-trail

We'll see you in the sunflowers soon 💛🌻

27/07/2026

We’re really looking forward to having a Youth Market outside our Damers Restaurant this Friday (31 July) from 11am to 2pm.

Come and meet talented young makers, aged 10–18, who have been working hard to create a range of handmade gifts, crafts, artwork and treats. It’s a great opportunity for them to showcase their creativity and gain experience running their own stalls.

If you’re visiting our hospital, please come and have a look. Every visit and purchase means a lot to the young makers.

Dorchester Youth & Community Centre

24/07/2026

Our Dementia Nurse Consultant Vikki Tweedy had the pleasure of meeting His Majesty The King and and Her Majesty The Queen on their recent visit to Blandford Forum.

It was an opportunity to share how music can transform the care of people living with dementia while in hospital, thanks to our partnership with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Vikki said:

"We have seen how music can reduce anxiety, reignite memories and create meaningful connections, reinforcing its value as a powerful part of person-centred dementia care. Being able to share these experiences with Their Majesties was both an honour and an opportunity to champion the value of integrating the arts into healthcare for people living with dementia."

23/07/2026

Congratulations to Neonatal Nurse Sarah and her friends Carole and Pam for walking along the Camino Primivito in Spain to raise money to upgrade accommodation for parents on our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). They walked 321km from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela.

They have raised over £2,000 so far, which is amazing! A link to Sarah's Just Giving page is in the comments.

Well done ladies! What a fantastic achievement!👏

Dorchester Special Care Baby Unit
Dorset County Hospital Charity