Outpatients Assessment Centre (OAC) - St Mary’s
About us
Welcome to the Outpatients Assessment Centre (OAC) – a new way of delivering outpatient care, designed with patients in mind.
As part of University Hospitals Dorset’s 'Think Big' initiative, the OAC helps reduce waiting times by bringing specialist and diagnostic services closer to the community. Working in partnership with healthcare teams across Dorset, we’re offering a more streamlined, focused way to run outpatient appointments.
Our clinics operate from 8:30am and include: dermatology, orthopaedics, ophthalomology, lipid and bowel screening, radiology (inc. ultrasound, Dexa and Fibroscan), respiratory diagnostic hub, urology, vascular, physiotherapy and neurology. We also offer phlebotomy (blood test) appointments.
All services are by appointment only – we are not a walk-in clinic.
We’re here to help and committed to making your outpatient experience as smooth, efficient and supportive as possible.
Travelling to St Mary’s Hospital
St. Mary's Hospital in Poole is part of the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, and is located on St. Mary's Road, a short walk from the main Poole Hospital site on Longfleet Road (B3068).
To find it using Google Maps, you can search for "St Mary's Hospital, St Mary's Road, Poole BH15 2LG"
St Mary’s Hospital address:
St Mary’s Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 2LG
St Mary's is an outpatient facility designed for patients attending planned appointments. Because of the way NHS Patient Transport Services operate, there are some important things you should know before attending.
- Hospital transport can be booked 4 weeks prior to your scheduled appointment.
- Hospital transport is generally only suitable for morning appointments at St Mary's.
- Return transport cannot be guaranteed at a specific time. You may need to wait up to 4 hrs for your transport home.
- St Mary's has limited facilities for patients waiting for transport. There is no café or catering on site, so we recommend bringing any refreshments you may require.
- We are unable to accept patients arriving on stretchers.
- Patients attending in a wheelchair must be able to transfer independently and be accompanied by someone who can safely assist them if required.
- If you require significant mobility assistance, specialist equipment or continuous support while waiting, another University Hospitals Dorset site may be more suitable for your appointment, please contact the phone number on your appointment letter.
- Patients living with dementia, learning disabilities, significant cognitive impairment or other conditions affecting their ability to manage independently should attend with a family member, carer or appropriate escort wherever possible.
If you believe St Mary's may not be suitable for your needs, please contact the booking team listed on your appointment letter as soon as possible. In many cases we can arrange your appointment at another University Hospitals Dorset site that is better equipped to support your individual requirements.
Please check your appointment letter carefully, as some clinics continue to take place at Poole Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital or other University Hospitals Dorset sites.
Travelling by bus
The hospitals are served by More Bus and First Bus. Timetables, travel planning and up to date travel news are available on their website or by telephone.
Travelling by train
Trains in this region are operated by South Western Railway.
For routes and timetables visit their website www.southwesternrailway.com or telephone 0845 6000 650.
The nearest train station is Poole.
Limited parking spaces on site. Easy drop off and pick up access. Blue Badge holders can use the on-site car park free of charge. Please make sure you display your blue badge clearly.
St Mary’s hospital car park:
- Pay & display car park adjacent to Outpatients (St Mary’s Road/Shaftesbury Road)
- Purchase ticket and display clearly (pay stations accept cards and cash)
Poole Hospital multistorey car park:
- Entrance via Longfleet Road (~10 min walk)
- Accessible bays on levels C and G
- Pay stations accept cards and cash
Please be respectful when parking in residential streets and ensure you do not block accesses to properties/drives.
Municipal Road (BH15 2RU): Cheap daytime rates (Monday-Saturday):
- 1 hour: £0.70
- 2 hours: £1.40
Nearby residential streets: Free parking up to 2 hours on surrounding roads.
- Arriving early? Try Municipal Road for low cost short-term parking.
- Staying longer? Use Poole Hospital multistorey or Harbourside Park.
- Free options? Explore Harbour Hill Road or nearby residential areas.
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Arriving for your appointment
Please arrive no more than 15 minutes before your appointment unless advised otherwise.
On arrival you can:
- Check in using the self check-in kiosk, or
- Speak to our reception team if you need assistance.
Please bring:
- Your appointment letter, text message or NHS App notification
- A list of medication you are currently taking
- Glasses or hearing aids if you use them
Accessibility and Additional Support
We are committed to making our services accessible for all patients.
Our site offers:
- Step-free access throughout the building.
- Accessible toilets.
- Access to ear defenders for patients who are sensitive to noise.
- Access to a quiet room or quieter waiting space when available.
- Additional support to help patients prepare for their appointment.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know before your appointment where possible.
No two patients are the same. We encourage patients and carers to tell us about any reasonable adjustments that may help make their appointment more accessible and comfortable.
If you would like to discuss your individual needs, understand more about our facilities, please contact us on 0300 019 1101. If you are already on site, please speak to a member of our team, who will be happy to help. We can discuss available support options and, where possible, arrange a quieter environment to make your visit more comfortable.
Need help with your appointment?
Our reception team can help with:
- Directions to St Mary's and site information
- Parking and accessibility queries
- Letting us know if you are running late for your appointment
- General questions about attending the site
Telephone: 0300 019 1101
For questions about your appointment, including:
- Changing or cancelling your appointment
- Appointment dates or times
- Test results
- Clinical advice
- Referral queries
Please contact the team looking after your care using the contact details provided in your appointment letter, NHS App notification and/or SMS reminder.
Important note: Many clinics at St Mary's are delivered by University Hospitals Dorset, Dorset HealthCare and local Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Each service manages its own appointments and patient enquiries, so our reception team is unable to access appointment systems or provide clinical information on their behalf.
