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.

Trust reaccredited as Veteran Aware

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) has received approval of its Veteran Aware Accreditation for a further three years,  endorsing its commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, and members of the armed forces and their families.

The accreditation, from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VC HA), acknowledges a number of key pledges UHD has made, including: 

• Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs.
• Making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims.
• Supporting the armed forces as an employee.

The Trust was first presented with a Veteran Aware plaque by John Young,  Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, at a ceremony held at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in 2021. 

Rob Horby, Armed Forces Community Advocate at UHD, said: “The Armed Forces Support Group and I are tremendously proud that University Hospitals Dorset has gained reaccreditation for the Veteran Aware Scheme.

“This reflects UHD’s commitment to deliver the best healthcare and support to veterans and their families. Since receiving the Veterans Aware accreditation in November’21, UHD has continued to ensure patients and colleagues from the armed forces community are not disadvantaged when accessing healthcare at UHD, ensuring they receive the appropriate support as required.”

“We are looking forward to the year ahead and continuing with our hard work to support the armed forces community.”

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.

Ground-breaking new trial for stroke patients

Dorset stroke patients are invited to take part in an innovative new clinical trial, testing how a specialised device can help strengthen hand and arm function.  

More than 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year, and one third will be left with permanent weakness. While rehabilitation does help after a stroke, the benefits can be modest.

In a recent clinical trial, electrically stimulating the vagus nerve while participants moved their weak arm resulted in better arm recovery compared with rehabilitation therapy alone. However, the electrical stimulator was surgically implanted, with nerve stimulation triggered by a therapist and delivered in hospital.

With the new TRICEPS (TRanscutaneous lImb reCovEry Post-Stroke) trial, brain stimulation is triggered via a lightweight, wearable pacemaker-like device which connects to a wired earpiece, rather than an implant inserted under general anaesthetic.

The stimulation is automatically activated as the arm is moved during therapy and the connected earpiece gently tickles the ear, meaning people can access the treatment at home and without the need for invasive surgery.

More commonly used to treat epilepsy, it is hoped this approach will allow revolutionary treatment to be provided to larger numbers of stroke patients. Patients have already been enrolled via two local NHS trusts, UHD, and Dorset HealthCare, but researchers need more people to come forward.

Consultant stroke therapist, Dr Louise Johnson, leads the study locally. She said: “This is a really exciting and promising trial, and it’s unusual to be able to take part so long after having a stroke. I am confident there are plenty of people out there who are eligible, and would want to play a role in improving stroke rehabilitation, so please do come forward.”

Ian Odd, who had a stroke in 2020, is participating in the trial at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and “would recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their quality of life post-stroke. It’s fantastic, and has certainly got me more disciplined with exercise. It’s well worth being involved.”

Specialist clinical therapist, Lucy Haynes, with trial participant, Ian Odd at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital

The £2m trial is led by researchers in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield and is running in 19 centres around the country.

The trial is being run from locations in Bournemouth, Sherborne and Dorchester. If you live outside Dorset, it is still possible to take part, if you are willing and able to travel to Bournemouth, Dorchester or Sherborne Hospitals for assessments.

To find out more, contact 0300 019 4504 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (people living in the BCP area or east Dorset), or – for residents elsewhere in the county – 01935 601454 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.