DETAILS of plans for a 'once-in-a-generation' redevelopment of Dorset County Hospital (DCH) have been unveiled.

DCH has been earmarked £77.3m of Government funding to expand its clinical facilities, including a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, which would link to the existing hospital.

The hospital in Dorchester currently employs around 3,500 staff and say that A&E demand alone is expected to continue to rise. The Emergency Department at DCH was built for 22,000 attendances per year, however in a normal year DCH sees close to 50,000 people.

Dorset Echo: An artist’s impression of what the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit building at Dorset County Hospital could look like.An artist’s impression of what the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit building at Dorset County Hospital could look like.

DCH is inviting patients and the local community to view and comment on the proposals online until March 11. Feedback will then be used to further develop the plans and included as part of the Trust’s outline planning application. The scheme, if approved by local planners, would form part of the Government’s New Hospitals Programme.

The Trust also plans to create an Integrated Care Hub – where health, social care and voluntary services could work together to provide care to patients at home or in a community setting. As well as building a new two-storey main entrance, hospital support centre and key worker housing.

All the proposed developments are part of the Trust’s Your Future Hospital programme, which sets out plans for the DCH site over the next five years.

Interim Chief Executive at Dorset County Hospital Nick Johnson said: “It’s an exciting time for us at Dorset County Hospital and we’re delighted to have been included in the Government’s New Hospitals Programme.

“We hope that these plans will make a huge difference to our patients, staff and visitors. It would help increase our capacity to meet demand and give patients the care and support they need, as well as provide staff with a better place to work, enabling them to continue to provide outstanding care to those who need it.”

Mr Johnson added:“We’re keen to involve our patients, staff, visitors and local communities along the way as we develop our plans, so hope people will take a look and give us their feedback.”

As part of its development plans, DCH also said it will be committing to improving the overall wellbeing of its local communities through its Social Value Pledge. This includes using local tradespeople and reducing carbon emissions through sustainable design.

DCH is being supported by Prime, a specialist health and care property company, who are working in partnership with the Trust to identify and plan improvements for the future.

They have successfully teamed up on the new 650-space multi-storey car park, set into the hill on a corner site at the bottom of Williams Avenue and Damers Road. The car park is due to open this summer and will improve parking for patients, staff and visitors, as well as free up the space needed to develop the rest of the hospital site.

To comment on the proposal visit www.dchft.nhs.uk/your-future-hospital.