Understanding Pelvic Health in Pregnancy and Beyond

Experts from University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) are holding a health talk focusing on pelvic health during pregnancy and the 12 months after delivery.

Taking place on Monday 10 March at 5.30pm, the in-person event will include three short presentations; each one focusing on a different theme relating to pelvic health. ‘An introduction to your pelvic floor and how to keep it healthy; ‘A guide to pelvic health during pregnancy’ and ‘A guide to postnatal pelvic health’, will be explained during the event followed by a brief update about the new maternity and neonatal unit opening at the BEACH Building in a matter of weeks.

Sally Sheppard, Service Lead Pelvic Health Physiotherapy UHD and Beth Fletcher, Public Health Lead Midwife at UHD, will lead the three pelvic health talks and Kerry Taylor, Head of Midwifery at UHD will close the event by giving the maternity update. Members of the audience are invited to ask questions to any of the presenters.

The event will take place in the Lecture Theatre, in the Education Theatre at Royal Bournemouth Hospital and starts at 5.30pm. Recordings of each talk will be available on the UHD website so those who cannot attend can watch at a later date.

To book your place at this free event, click here.  

Your local hospitals are giving you the chance to put forward staff or volunteers you feel have gone the extra mile for special recognition.

Our Patient Choice Award is seeking to highlight some of the incredible individuals and teams that make up University Hospitals Dorset – Christchurch, Poole, and the Royal Bournemouth hospitals.

They form part of the UHD Awards 2025, which recognise and celebrate hospital staff, those working for key partners in our hospitals and for volunteers who give their time and skills for free.

Nominating is simple – just click here to find an online form and guidance on what judges will be looking for to help your nomination stand out.

Nominations must be made by midday on Monday 17 March 2025.

Judges will be looking for individuals and teams for who nothing is too much trouble, provide great care or service, treat others with kindness and respect, and are a great example to others.

Siobhan Harrington, Chief Executive for UHD, said: “We are here to provide the best care we can for our patients. This means giving the best experience possible from the moment our patients and visitors step foot in our hospitals or speak to a member of our team on the phone or online, not necessarily just the clinical care we provide.

“Every member of our team can contribute to the care a patient experiences, from all corners of our hospitals. I hope as many members of the public as possible take the opportunity to put someone forward in our Patient Choice Award.

“This is our third UHD Staff Awards and we hope it will be bigger and better than ever. We consistently see how much recognition from the public means to our UHD family, so we’d love to see as many nominations in this category as possible.”

The winners will be decided by a judging panel including a wide range of UHD staff and announced at an awards event at The Pavilion in Bournemouth on 20 May.

Click here to make your nomination.

Patient Choice Award judging criteria

Recognising an individual or team who (some or all criteria may be relevant):

• actively promote a positive and memorable experience of our hospitals 
• go the extra mile - nothing is too much trouble 
• deliver consistently great care or service 
• treat others with kindness and care, dignity and respect, and are supportive and compassionate
• are a great example and role model to others.

Families invited to farewell event for Maternity Unit

After more than 60 years of service, St Mary’s Maternity Unit in Poole has closed its doors for the final time, and University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) is inviting local families to come and say a final farewell.

Taking place on Saturday 5 April, 10am-1pm, members of the public are welcome to visit areas of the unit and join maternity and neonatal staff members for a trip down memory lane, helping colleagues celebrate the place and its people where an estimated 250,000 babies have been welcomed into the world since the unit’s opening in 1961.

Along with access to areas of Antenatal, Haven Birthing Suite, and Labour Ward, guests will also have an opportunity to find out about the future of UHD’s maternity services which are now located in the new BEACH (Births, Emergency and Critical care and children’s Health) Building on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site.

Kerry Taylor, UHD’S Head of Midwifery and Neonatal Services, said: “We are so excited at moving to the BEACH Building, but acknowledge that many local families and staff from the past and present will be sad to see the doors to St Mary’s Maternity Unit close for a final time.”

“We are delighted to give people the opportunity to come and reminisce, sharing the memories they have from their time in the building before joining us to say a fond farewell to St Mary’s.”

The event will take place at St Mary’s Maternity Unit, St Mary’s Road, Poole, BH15 2BH.

Refreshments will be available on the day and no booking is required; families are welcome to attend between the hours of 10am-1pm, and to be mindful of limited parking available.

Schedule as follows, (times approx):

• 10:15am - Welcome from Kerry Taylor, Head of Midwifery
• 10:25am - Memories of St Mary's from Christine Smith, Senior Inpatient Maternity Matron and Mr Tim Hillard, Consultant Gynaecologist
• 10:40am - Refreshments
• 11am - A blessing of the unit from Rvd. James Taylor, Lead Chaplain
• 11:30am-12pm - Tours of the unit
• 12:30pm - Closing words and thanks from Lorraine Tonge, Director of Midwifey and final 'ringing of the bell'

Understanding ‘Hospital at Home’

Experts from University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) are holding a virtual health talk focusing on ‘Hospital at Home’ followed by an interactive workshop about the NHS 10 Year Plan.

Taking place on Thursday 6 February at 5.30pm, the online talk will explain what ‘Hospital at Home’ is and the benefits this brings to patients being cared for in their own homes.

Presenters Dr Tom Bartlett, Consultant Geriatrician and UHD Clinical Lead for Hospital at Home and Karen Bowers, Matron for Hospital at Home Virtual Ward at UHD, will present and take questions from an online audience before the workshop starts.

Karen Bowers, Matron for Hospital at Home Virtual Ward at UHD, said: “Hospital at Home provides eligible patients with safe, effective person-centred care from specialist teams in the comfort of their own home.

“The care delivered is equivalent to that received in an acute hospital setting and will vary depending on the health and care needs of the patient. It is a safe and efficient alternative to in-patient bedded care.  The benefits of this are reduced risk of infection and deconditioning and the possibility of getting well quicker in your own home environment, with access to support from friends and family."

“Patient feedback on the service is very positive and a variety of clinical pathways are currently offered with more being explored."

“If you’re interested in finding out more about how this works, please logon to the event in February.”

The interactive workshop after the health talk, will include a presentation giving a background to the NHS 10 Year Plan and questions focusing on three areas: moving more care from hospitals to communities; making better use of technology; and preventing sickness, not just treating it. Feedback will be collated and fed back to NHS England.

The free, virtual event is open to everyone, and no booking is required. The health talk will be recorded and added to UHD’s health talk library after the event. Click on the link available at www.uhd.nhs.uk/index.php/news/public-engagement-events on the day and time of the event to join.