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- Latest News & Events 2023
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is inviting people across Dorset to come together on Friday 23 June 2023 to take part in its Twilight Walk.
People of any abilities can take part to support thousands of women from every part of our community that face women’s health concerns such as breast cancer, gynaecological conditions and ovarian cancer each year. Our regulars tend to walk, but people have the option to run if they prefer.
Meeting at 7.30pm and setting off from Bournemouth Pier Approach at 8pm, we hope as many people can come together to have fun along the way as they walk along the Bournemouth promenade before sunrise and after sunset.
While we can’t stop cancer, together we can help raise funds to help treat it. In its eleventh year this event hopes to be brighter than ever before.
Charity Fundraiser, Amy Beauchamp said: “The Twilight Walk is a celebration of the women in our community. The strength in walking alongside one another and shining bright symbolises what it means to support one another.”
“As this year’s theme is ‘shine bright’, everybody is invited to sparkle and shine like the star they are. We’re encouraging people to think glittery tops, sparkly accessories or even metallic shoes! Or if you prefer something a little more subtle, you can try white clothing or reflective materials that catch the light. Remember, there’s no wrong way to shine at our event. So be creative, have fun and let your inner star shine bright!”
Every penny raised will go towards adopting a new way to treat women with advanced ovarian cancer. This new kit will enable our NHS staff to deliver warm chemotherapy after surgery (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) costing £51,000.
This is a relatively new way to administer chemotherapy to patients with advanced ovarian cancer. It does not replace the intravenous chemotherapy that patients receive, however research shows that by administering heated chemotherapy (42oC) directly to the tissues impacted by cancer after surgery can greatly benefit patients and even improve their overall survival.
This is extremely important because the prognosis for advanced ovarian cancer is usually poor. The University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is raising funds to improve this for every woman in our community.
This means, together with the support of the public, every supporter can contribute towards improving women’s health services for our grandmothers, mums, wives, daughters, sisters and friends who may need support for ovarian cancer locally.
Since 2013, our amazing Twilight Walk participants have raised over £150,000 for breast and gynaecological projects. This has funded items that provide instant blood test results for patients on the Early Pregnancy Unit, a Urodynamic Machine to investigate bladder symptoms and a cold Coagulator machine for cervical screening treatments to name a few.
Deputy General Manager, Georgina Floyd, said: “These items have helped reduce our waiting times for patients and enabled us to get clear imaging that prevents unnecessary procedures and improves the overall experience for our patients at their most worrying times. Without our supporters of events like the Twilight Walk, this simply would not have happened.”
Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £8 for children (under 5s go free).If anybody wants to take part, sign up now at uhdcharity.org/twilight-walk.
Tackling our waiting lists: we need to hear from you
To help us to tackle the large waiting lists caused by the Covid-19 pandemic we routinely contact patients waiting for appointments or procedures. Increasingly, this is by text message (SMS), but can also be by letter or phone call.
Over the last two years, many non-emergency operations and procedures across the NHS had to be cancelled or postponed because of Covid-19. We are working hard to prioritise these patients and will be contacting patients waiting for appointments at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals.
If you are contacted, please be assured that:
- our communication will only ever ask questions relating to your care
- we will never ask for bank details or reference to money or payment
- we will never ask you for your name or address
- for security reasons, we’ll ask you to confirm your date of birth.
Please respond promptly so we can help you with your care, or offer your future appointment to someone who needs it.
We can only contact you if we have your up-to-date contact details and especially your mobile phone number – you can ensure we have yours by talking to the reception team at your next hospital appointment or by calling the number on your appointment letter.
Dr Ruth Williamson, consultant radiologist and deputy chief medical officer, said: “We know some patients have been waiting a long time for treatment and we’re trying our best to catch up from the treatment that was delayed during Covid. If you hear from us, please do respond as we’re trying to arrange your healthcare as soon as we can."
Understanding your labour journey
Thursday 20 April 11.30am-12.30pm
The first Understanding Health educational event of 2023 takes place next Thursday (20 April).
The free virtual talk will be hosted by University Hospitals Dorset’s head of midwifery, Kerry Taylor, alongside maternity colleagues who will talk about various aspects of labour and giving birth, including:
· Early labour
· Labour positions
· Epidurals and modes of delivery
The talk will also highlight some of the resources available through the NHS and ways in which mums-to-be can help themselves during their labour such as the use of aromatherapy.
After the talk, there will be a Q&A where you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions to the team.
The talk will run on Microsoft Teams and is open to everyone. There’s no need to download Teams to join. Click here to join the event at 11.30am on Thursday 20 April. A recording of the talks will also be available after the event in the health talk library on UHD’s website here. The library is ever-growing and includes talks on a range of health issues.
Looking to understand more about IBD?
University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) will host a dedicated patient education day for patients with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) under the care of Poole and the Royal Bournemouth hospitals.
The event, which will take place on Saturday 13 May, 10am-1pm, is to be held in Royal Bournemouth's lecture theatre, within the Education Centre.
The agenda includes an overview of IBD from Dr Imogen Williams, topics including pregnancy and IBD, and rheumatology and IBD, as well as talks from IBD nurses, representatives from Crohns and Colitis UK, and a discussion from a patient panel member.
To reserve a space, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Hospital governors host listening event in Corfe
UHD governors will be holding a listening event between 1pm and 5pm on Tuesday 28 March in Corfe Castle Village Hall.
Members of the public are invited to come along to the Bill Carter room and speak to governors about the latest developments taking place across the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals. They will also be giving out information about up and coming health events and gathering feedback which can help contribute to improvements at the trust.
Refreshments will be available and there is limited parking onsite.
