MAJOR multi-million pound plans to redevelop the Dorset County Hospital site have now been submitted.

As previously reported, DCH was earmarked £77.3 million of funding from the Government’s New Hospital Programme to expand and improve services on the Dorchester site, including extending the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit.

The Trust also has aspirations to build a new two-storey main entrance, hospital support centre, key worker housing and create an Integrated Care Hub.

These form part of DCH’s Your Future Hospital programme, which sets out plans over the next five years to expand clinical facilities on site and help meet increasing demand.

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The hospital's Emergency Department treats twice as many people as it was built for and demand is expected to rise.

The hospital says the scheme will increase capacity to meet demand and give patients the care they need, as well as providing staff with a better place to work.

Following feedback from patients, staff and the wider community, plans for the 'once-in-a-generation' redevelopment have now been submitted to Dorset Council.

Nearly 400 people gave their feedback on the hospital plans in a consultation, and this has been included as part of the outline planning application which seeks a decision on the general principles, scale and nature of the developments.

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Interim Chief Executive at Dorset County Hospital Nick Johnson said: “We have big aspirations to develop and improve our hospital site for our patients, staff and visitors, including a brand-new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.

“We really appreciate people taking the time to look at our site plans and give us their feedback. We heard from patients, staff and the wider community and have included their views as part of our outline planning application, so they can also be considered by local councillors.”

If Dorset Council grants permission, this would be subject to conditions, and the hospital trust would need to draw up and submit detailed plans for each individual project.

More information about Dorset County Hospital’s plans can be viewed online at www.dchft.nhs.uk/your-future-hospital

Comments on the planning application - which can be viewed on the Dorset Council planning portal https://planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ are invited until June 19.