If you’re a fan of the TV programme Dragons’ Den you might like to choose from a number of ideas which have been put forward to improve patient care in Dorset.

Dorset HealthCare is once again running its Dragons’ Den staff innovation competition, with £10,000 available to support proposals which will directly benefit patients, carers and/or staff.

Staff around the Trust have come up with some fantastic projects, spanning community and mental health services, and these have been shortlisted to a top ten.

Members of the public and fellow NHS staff are now being asked to pick their three favourites by 5pm on Friday, 24 February, with the most popular going through to the Dragons’ Den final on 30 March.

As in the BBC-TV show (only with a more friendly panel of ‘Dragons’), the finalists will explain their plans in more detail and pitch for cash to make them a reality.

You can find a run-down of all the entries, and vote for the ones you like best, at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/dragons-den

The 2022 competition – which attracted more than 1,300 votes – proved to be a bumper one for those entries which reached the final.

Along with two outright winners, a further seven projects were provided with additional development funding, bringing the final grant total up to almost £25,000.

You can watch short videos about two of the success stories – a choir for people with the life-changing communication disorder aphasia (https://bit.ly/3HJGB2r and https://bit.ly/3HdrblC) and a support group which helps people with mild cognitive impairment reduce the risk of dementia (https://bit.ly/3RgGPkQ).

The panel of Dragons will be led, as usual, by Trust chairman Andy Willis who said:

“All of us were incredibly impressed with the quality of the finalists last year and we were able to find the extra money to support the fabulous innovative ideas.

“We’re already seeing the positive impact these projects can have on people’s lives, so I would urge people to read through the shortlist and vote for their favourites.”