Residents urged to share hospital change concerns

University Hospitals Dorset hopes to turn Royal Bournemouth Hospital into a major emergency centre

Residents have been encouraged to attend a health event where they can air their concerns about changes to local hospital services.

The drop-in session organised by University Hospitals Dorset (UHD), will run from 10:00 GMT to 16:00 at the Gather space in Poole's Dolphin Centre.

It will raise awareness of the ongoing £500m transformation programme taking place at UHD sites, which include making Royal Bournemouth Hospital the county's "major emergency centre".

James Donald, the associate director of communications for UHD said they want to be "informing the public about what is going on" but also "hearing their concerns".

The BEACH building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital is its new maternity unit

Poole hospital will lose its emergency department in July/ August 2026, Mr Donald said.

He added that it will it instead becomes the "largest planned care hospital site in the country".

It will mean people taken by ambulance for emergency treatment will go to the hospital in Bournemouth, while patients who have planned procedures, walk-ins and non-emergency healthcare services will go to the hospital in Poole.

The two hospitals are 8.4 miles (13.5 km) apart.

Mr Donald said it is hoped that the changes will help to reduce waiting times for patients.

"If we've got a centre dedicated to planned care then the point of this is things won't be bumped by emergency pressures," he said.

He acknowledged that it is a very large change but said they are already "seeing better results" in services like Poole's maternity unit, which moved to Bournemouth earlier this year.

Visitors to the community health event will also be able to access free health checks, including blood pressure tests and COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for those who are eligible.

A number of partner organisations, including Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police will also be present to share information about their services and campaigns.