Promoting health in pregnancy 

UHD and Dorset HealthCare are hosting a ‘Promoting Health in Pregnancy’ drop-in event in the BEACH reception at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on Wednesday 3 September, 9am-4pm.

You will have the opportunity to discuss key health  topics,such as nutrition, activity, smoking, pelvic health,and vaccinationswith some of our Maternity Team.

Pregnant people will have the opportunity to have their seasonalflu vaccine right at the start of the season, and eligible non-pregnant people will be able to book theirs with the team. 

Information for patients during industrial action

During times of industrial action, our priority is to provide safe care. Please help us by choosing the right services for your needs.

Key information for hospital appointments and patients

• At times, we may have to postpone some appointments during industrial action. We will let you know directly if your appointment is cancelled. Please assume it is going ahead unless you are contacted directly.

• No-one should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes and people with serious, life-threatening conditions will continue to be seen in our emergency departments.

• Use NHS 111 online or by phone for other urgent care needs. If you are contacting 111, please give as much information as you can, as that will help you get the right support and advice.

• For non-urgent care services please contact your GP practice to make an appointment.

Mental health support

If you need mental health support call Connection on 0800 652 0190. The Connection service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Visit your local pharmacy

Pharmacies can help with allergies, constipation, headaches, earaches and many other ailments.
Find a pharmacy near you.

Patient discharge

Staying in hospital for longer than necessary can have a negative impact on how well patients recover. Most patients will continue to recover at home once they leave hospital. In fact, many patients need to leave hospital to be able to complete their recovery fully.

Help us get patients who are ready for discharge home so our hospital beds are available for people who need them most urgently. Please speak to the ward team if you need more information and respond quickly to any calls from us about your relative leaving hospital.

Leading the way in stroke research 

University Hospitals Dorset’s (UHD) Stroke Reseach Team is the UK’s leading recruiter for a national clinical study to support patients recovering from stroke.

In a ground-breaking new trial, led by experts from the University of Nottingham, the team at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital is assessing whether Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation (PES) can help people to recover the ability to swallow again following a stroke.

Swallowing problems (dysphagia) affect at least 50% patients following a stroke, many of whom still have abnormal swallowing a year later. Swallowing problems often lead to chest infections, poor nutrition, and long hospital stays. At present, there are no proven treatments for dysphagia after stroke.

The PhEAST (Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation for Acute Stroke dysphagia Trial) trial is a randomised controlled trial that aims to establish if PES can help stroke patients with dysphagia re-train their brain to swallow safely again. If patients are suitable and meet the study criteria, this will be discussed with them and their families. Other benefits include reducing hospital lengths of stay, decreasing dependence, and improving overall quality of life for patients.

UHD's Stroke Research Team 

Deborah Broadbent is a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at UHD, and the Principal Investigator for the trial. She said: “We have recruited 50 people to the PhEAST study and have met our target. This also makes us the highest recruiting site for this study which has so far recruited 419 patients across 33 sites. We plan to continue to recruit as the study has another year to go.”

"Our involvement in PhEAST is very much a team effort. The Speech and Language Therapy Team is extremely motivated and are involved in identifying, consenting, and providing treatment to patients we recruit. We have fantastic support from our ward nurses and doctors as well as the research team.” 

“It is great for the speech and language therapists to be involved in stroke research and really helps our learning as well as our profile. It is also a positive opportunity for me as a therapist to be the Principal Investigator for this study, and I am grateful for this experience and the chance to be involved in current research which may impact future management of people who have dysphagia following stroke.”

Hospital first in UK to welcome Bishop

The Chaplaincy Team at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) welcomed Bishop Kosea Odongo of Soroti, Uganda, to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH).

Bishop Kosea leads the Anglican diocese of Soroti in Uganda, making him the spiritual leader of hundreds of thousands of Ugandan Christians.

He spent time with his wife, Grace, at RBH’s new multi-faith space within the Chaplaincy Centre at the start of July, and also enjoyed a walkabout on-site to talk with staff.

He said: “I have been particularly interested to learn about Chaplaincy provision within the NHS during my first visit to an acute hospital in the United Kingdom, and I thank the staff members here for making myself and Grace feel so welcome.

“I have learnt a great deal in a short amount of time, and look forward to taking this back to colleagues both in my diocese, and in the Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, where we hold prayers for both staff and patients.”

Bishop Kosea and his wife Grace with members of UHD'S Chaplaincy and Organisational Development teams 

James Taylor, Lead Chaplain at UHD, co-ordinated the visit. He said: “Bishop Kosea stressed the importance of inclusion, speaking of welcoming other denominations and faiths into their new chapel space in Soroti."

"We discussed the similarities and differences of our work, and he reflected candidly on the inequalities of funding for treatment in the Ugandan system, as well as the shadow that civil war still casts over many.” 

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Bishop to RBH, and for myself and my colleagues in the Chaplaincy Team to be able to show him the vital work we do here, which he greatly appreciated. We look forward to a return visit to Soroti in the near future!”