Dorset County Hospital (DCH) will be running a stall to promote its new emergency and critical care unit at the county’s biggest rural event this weekend.

In October last year, the hospital trust received planning approval to build a new multi-million-pound Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.

A £2.5M Capital Appeal was launched to raise funds for enhanced facilities as well as artistically designed elements to help create a sympathetic and healing environment in both units.

The charity team will be encouraging people to support the fundraising appeal at the Dorset County Show which takes place on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 at the Dorchester Showground.

Simon Pearson, head of charity, said: “We need the support of our local community and businesses to help fund a range of enhanced facilities in both the Emergency Department and the Critical Care Unit.

"These include dedicated relatives’ overnight accommodation, mental health facilities for children and young people in the Emergency Department and a critical care patient garden. The appeal will also fund uplifting art and design elements in both departments.”

NFU Mutual Agents in Dorchester with their recent donation to the AppealNFU Mutual Agents in Dorchester with their recent donation to the Appeal (Image: Dorset County Hospital)

Many individuals, local groups and companies have already made significant donations and chosen to support the appeal. These include local Charitable trusts, NFU Mutual in Dorchester, HK Law, Porter Dodson and the Filipino Community of Dorchester and Weymouth, amongst many others.

A recent major fundraising challenge, the DCH100 Jurassic Coast Challenge, involved over 50 participants walking or running along the Jurassic Coast in aid of the Appeal – this event raised an amazing £110k.

Dorset County Show previously donated £10,000 to support the new unit having chose the hospital as its charity of the year.  

READ MORE: Dorset County Show donates £10,000 to hospital appeal

Mary-Jane Attwood, capital appeal officer at DCH, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has donated and fundraised in support of the appeal so far, including our brilliant DCH100 teams.

"We are here to support and help you with your events and your fundraising so please get in touch to find out how you can help make a difference and support the appeal."

Plans were submitted to Dorset Council to meet the growing patient demand as annually, over 50,000 people are treated in the current unit.  The hospital was originally built for just 22,000 attendees.

Artist’s impression of the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit at DCHArtist’s impression of the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit at DCH (Image: DCH)

The new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit (CrCU) will be built on the site of the former Damers First School which was demolished last summer to prepare the site for development.

Visitors at the county show can support the appeal by buying a raffle ticket at the DCH  charity stand. 

You can also make a donation online on the charity website or by taking part in a challenge event: www.dchcharityorg.uk