Run by Dorset HealthCare, the community hospital has been awarded £2.9 million by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to upgrade facilities and relocate services currently based at the Blandford Clinic in Salisbury Street.

Throughout the refurbishment, existing hospital services and clinics will run as usual but there will be slight disruption on-site, including reduced car parking and redirection signs in place.

Anyone travelling by car to the hospital should allow more time to find a parking space on-site or in nearby roads. And if you are unable to find where you need to be, the hospital reception team will be able to help.

Work at the hospital will run until the end of the year. It will focus on improving patient experience by upgrading existing clinical areas, offices, reception areas, the public entrance and dedicated waiting areas.

Building work will take place enabling the hospital to provide:

• midwifery and health visitors
• school nursing and school immunisations
• paediatrics
• podiatry
• mental health services.

New consultation rooms will also be created, along with extra utility spaces and storerooms.

Helen Lawes, Dorset HealthCare’s locality manager for North Dorset, said: “We’re delighted to be consolidating our services to one site in Blandford to create a modern community care hub for the area.

“It’s an exciting time for the hospital, with NHS England committing to significant investment in the future of Blandford and surrounding area. This investment will bring huge benefits for patients and our staff.”

For more information on Blandford Hospital visit: www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/blandfordhospital