DETAILS of how Dorset County Hospital prepared for the Covid pandemic have emerged - as a senior medical officer revealed his 'immense pride' at his staff's response to the crisis.

Professor Alastair Hutchison, chief medical officer at the hospital, has reflected on the past year as the UK marked the one-year anniversary of lockdown measures as the pandemic took grip.

In March 2020, the Dorchester-based hospital quickly adapted its services in response to the crisis.

Prof Hutchison said preparations started soon after Italy entered a national lockdown, with three urgent areas identified and addressed.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: The Clap for Carers and key workers was appreciated by the hospital.The Clap for Carers and key workers was appreciated by the hospital.

These included splitting the emergency department to separate coronavirus patients from other patients, improving its Moreton Ward - its respiratory ward - and expanding its Intensive Care Unit.

Prof Hutchison said: “The first place was the emergency department and the doctors and nurses with the help of another department, we were able to alter the emergency department so that we could segregate who we thought had covid to those who don’t to keep them apart.

“We separated the emergency department into two areas. That required a lot of changes to the emergency department to make that happen.

“The second area we looked that was the respiration ward where a lot of these patients who were unwell went to and there the nursing staff on the ward where superb in terms of getting PPE, and really leading the way in terms of the use of PPE and the organisation of the ward. The Morton Ward did a fantastic job.

“The third area was the ICU, which had to expand and also had to increase its staff numbers.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: Staff at Dorset County Hospital have had to respond quickly to Covid pandemic and wear PPE at all times.Staff at Dorset County Hospital have had to respond quickly to Covid pandemic and wear PPE at all times.

Prof Hutchison recalled there was ‘a lot of the fear of the unknown’ and expressed his own fears, but was confident Dorset County Hospital and the NHS could effectively handle the pandemic.

The hospital has reported 110 coronavirus-related deaths over the course of the pandemic, with a majority of deaths occurring in January and February this year.

The situation has since improved at the hospital, with only four patients currently receiving medical treatment for Covid-19.

Prof Hutchison said: "More than 1,400 people in Dorset have died over the course of the pandemic.

“My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and yet at the same time, I feel hugely proud of the way the NHS and the country has responded.”