Our Covid-19 time capsules
What's inside (l-r): Gloves, facemasks, ribbons used in our annual reflection services, memory sticks containing films from the pandemic, PPE gowns, lateral flow tests, knitted hearts given to relatives of those critically ill in intensive care, glass rainbows of hope made by Dr Michelle Scott, yellow hearts made by the relative of a patient, a book of reflections from Team UHD, Covid vaccines, FFP3 face masks, and a compilation of all the signage displayed as we journeyed through the pandemic.
In March 2024, we held special services at RBH, Christchurch and Poole and buried a Covid time capsule on each site. Items in the capsules were chosen by our staff, and include a special book of reflections with a number of photos and recollections from those of us working in the NHS through the pandemic.
We plan to open these capsules again on the 100th anniversary of the NHS – 5 July 2048.
The chosen sites are marked a memorial stone and have created a lasting space to reflect on the pandemic, the way it changed NHS life as we know it, and the very personal impact it had on ourselves and our loved ones.
Covid-19: A book of reflections from Team UHD
Signs of the times: Communicating our way through Covid During the pandemic, we worked with local and national media to share what was happening in our hospitals, and made a number of our own films to support colleagues and patients. Click the links below to view our favourites:
BBC South Today a minute silence 2020
We held a very special Service of Remembrance and minute’s silence on Tuesday 28 April to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus. The service featured on BBC national news, including an interview with our Deputy Director of Nursing, Fiona Hoskins.
Poole Patient leaving after 35 days
One of our patients leaves critical care after 35 days recovery to rapturous applause from staff.
BBC South Today week 3 Clap for NHS staff
A BBC South today segment celebrating how we clapped for our NHS staff across the south, featuring the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Dorset Police.
BBC South Today report on antibody testing
In June 2020, NHS staff were offered antibody testing across Dorset which have been carried out at Poole Hospital. This will helped with future planning and allowed our services to return to normality.
BBC South Today evening news follows night shift
Alastair Fee from BBC South Today spent an evening at RBH to find out from staff about the impact of Covid-19 across our hospitals as our numbers of patients continues to rise.
Colleagues from across our hospitals reflect on the pandemic, how it impacted our services, patients and themselves.
ITV Emily Morgan report from ICU at RBH
Reporting from our ICU, Emily Morgan meets colleagues and patients working under the strain of Covid-19. We meet Linda New as she moves into our Covid ward at RBH and learn how clinical site teams manage the flow of our hospitals.
As we celebrated International Nurses Day, we acknowledged that 2020 was a year like no other for our nurses and midwives across our hospitals. We celebrated who they are both inside and outside our hospitals.
Self-testing using a lateral flow device
Lateral flow devices became a big part of our lives, so we created this handy video to help our patients and staff take the tests safely.
Behind every Covid-19 test, is a biomedical scientist. We used Biomedical Science Day as a chance to celebrate our scientists’ vast and vital contribution to the coronavirus response.
Laura Purandare, our Head of Research and Innovation spoke to Forest FM about the new trial at RBH to find a vaccine for Covid-19.
ITV Lorraine show interview with Linda a Covid-19 survivor at RBCH
Our patient Linda New was interviewed on the Lorraine Show as part of its NHS Heroes Day. Linda featured on ITV news as she was clapped out of ICU and is now at home recovering from Covid-19. She was virtually joined on the show by our critical care consultant Dr Michelle Scott and spoke about how well she was cared for by our wonderful staff.
Chaplaincy team's response to Covid-19
Multi-faith members of the chaplaincy teams from both Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital about how they have adjusted what they do to assist patients and relatives in need of chaplaincy services during the pandemic.
Staff wellbeing support during Covid-19Staff wellbeing support during Covid-19
We adapted our wellbeing support during Covid-19 to make sure we supported our colleagues during the difficulties of the pandemic.
During the pandemic we all had a role to play in keeping ourselves and each other safe. It was vital that we wore the correct PPE and disposed of it correctly.
How did our hospitals prepare for winter in 2020? Our clinicians spoke to Hugh Pym about how we are planning to maintain routine services and deal with any rise in Covid-19 cases.
Resumption of services at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital
BBC South Today report into how our hospital is preparing to resume further services following the Covid-19 pandemic. The feature highlights the work of our Eye Unit in treating patients with sight-saving surgery, illustrating the precautions we are taking to avoid infection.
Research team leading the fight against Covid in world-first vaccine booster trial 2021
We were incredibly proud to be leading the fight against Covid 19 in a world first vaccine booster trial.
University Hospitals Dorset's Covid-19 Service of Reflection
Taking place on March 2022, services at Christchurch Hospital, Poole and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital will include readings by members of staff and the observation of a national minute's silence at 12noon.
Our colleagues will be tying ribbons to trees to remember all the sacrifices made during the pandemic and all our patients, including those who have sadly died.
As our chief executive Debbie Fleming explains, it is hoped that this opportunity to pause and reflect will help us all in moving forward.
The Poole and RBCH IT Service Desk has changed
A new Helpdesk software solution to centralise all IT service requests and incident reports is live.
You are no longer able to log calls through the current This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email address.
Please email the appropriate address from those listed below:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (For use by GP surgeries on any items related to ICE)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (For use by GP surgeries, DHUFT, Southampton and DCH on any items related to Graphnet EPR)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (For any items related to Dorset Care Record)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (For use by DHUFT for items related to Camis)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (For use by the CCG sending notifications about GP changes and surgery changes)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (For use by third party companies relating to Network Issues or requests)
The reason for creating the different email addresses is so that we can automatically divert your call to the relevant IT technical team to assist you without further delay.
If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Communications team
Our communications team deals with all aspects of internal and external communication, including media relations, publications, managing the trust's website and social media accounts and planning events and campaigns. The team aims to keep staff, patients, the public and health partners up to date with our latest developments and news.
What we do:
- media relations – reactive and proactive
- internal communication / organisational development communications
- stakeholder communication
- campaigns
- quality and improvement programmes
- patient and public films
- membership communication
- e-communications; website, patient / public LCD screens and social media
- events: internal and external
- publications
- public consultation
- fundraising communication and promotion
- the process for producing and approving all patient information leaflets, including design
- emergency planning / business continuity
For assistance with any of the above, please contact the team using the details provided below. For all other queries, please contact the relevant department or person directly. If you are unsure of the contact details for the department or person you need to speak to, please call the main hospital number on 01202 303 626 (Royal Bournemouth Hospital) or 01202 665511 (Poole Hospital) and the Trust's Switchboard Team will be able to assist you.
News, events and publications
If you wish to view our latest news, events, postive feedback and publications, please click on the below:
Contact us
Our core office hours are from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. For all day to day enquiries please email the team This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also call us on 0300 019 4905 or 0300 019 4394.
Media enquiries
For all media enquiries, please click here.
The team:
James Donald - associate director for communications: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Richard Moremon - head of communications (transformation): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jon Fisher - senior communications manager: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jane Bruccoleri-Aitchison - senior communications manager: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Melanie Croydon - senior stakeholder engagement officer : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Emma Welham - communications officer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paige Van-der-zee - communications officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jess Channon - communications and engagement officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Yaluska Cox - communications assistant This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Roland Swift - graphic designer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Noel Tadman - multimedia officer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Media enquiries
All media enquiries during core office hours (8am to 4.30pm), including requests for interviews, filming and photography, should be made to the Communications Department on ext. 4905 or 2408. You can also email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
During out of hours (evenings, weekends and bank holidays) all media calls should be made to the switchboard (01202 303 626) and will be directed to the duty manager.
We send out regular news releases and you can find these on our website. If you are a member of the media and would like to be added to our distribution list for future news releases, please email your details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Patient confidentiality
We place great emphasis on the need for the strictest confidentiality in respect of our patients. We will not divulge any information about a patient unless we are given permission from the individual or their next of kin.
Filming and photography
Please contact the communications team if you would like to film or take photographs in any area of our trust. Please remember that the hospital is a private site and filming or photography will only be permitted with express prior permission from the communications department.
Interview requests
The communications team will consider all requests made to interview staff members. Please contact the communications team to discuss your request.
Freedom of information requests
All information requests under Freedom of Information should be sent to the freedom of information officer on 0300 019 4461 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
