Dorset County Hospital was established in 1991 as part of a long–term project to bring together all the local services for acutely ill patients onto one hospital site. The new hospital, just outside Dorchester town centre, was completed in 1997.

They were awarded Foundation Trust status in June 2007.

They received a 'good' rating for the quality of patient services in the latest performance ratings from the Care Quality Commission (2008/09) and a 'good' for financial management. Click here to read more.

Our busy, modern hospital provides a full range of district general services, including an accident and emergency department, and links with satellite units in five community hospitals.

They are the main provider of acute hospital services to a population of around 210,000, living within Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset, North Dorset and Purbeck. They also provide renal services for patients throughout Dorset and South Somerset; a total population of 850,000.

A recent patient survey ranked our Accident and Emergency Department as the best in the South West, and our mortality rates are low.

Their 3,000 staff work in GP surgeries, schools, residential homes and people’s own homes as well as Dorset County Hospital and the community hospitals.

Dorset County Hospital has approximately 400 beds, seven main theatres and two day theatres, and has been designed with a major commitment to Public Arts in Hospital. Related services are grouped into three connected wings: North, South and East. Entry to the hospital is gained via nine main entrances. Click here for maps of the hospital site.