To mark the occasion, a series of celebration events were held for staff and public across all three hospital sites. The events were designed to thank staff and the public for their support and to showcase the new branding - which includes refreshed logos for Bournemouth Hospital Charity, Poole Hospital Charity and Christchurch Hospital Charity.

There were also messages of support from health charity partners as well as good wishes from colleagues and supporters including AFC Bournemouth legend, Steve Fletcher. You can watch the video on the new UHDC website: www.UHDCharity.org

Debbie Fleming, chief executive, said that establishing the new charity makes possible many exciting developments, both now and in the future:

“Every day the staff at UHD do amazing things, our hospitals providing life-changing surgery and care to every NHS patient who need our expert services.

“But generous donations to the charity mean we can do even more to support our patients and staff.

“Through the creation of University Hospital Dorset NHS Charity, we hope that, with the support of our donors, we will be able to make patients and their families more comfortable, provide more and better equipment, and support the health and well-being of our staff.”

Speaking about the news, Debbie Anderson, head of charity, said: 

“The newly formed charity enables us to support a wider range of fundraising and provide even more support across all three hospital sites.

“We urge our wonderful supporters of both Poole Hospital Charity and Bournemouth Hospital Charity to continue to support us in our new partnership so we can do even more to improve patient welfare as well as staff wellbeing and support above and beyond what the NHS can fund.”

The charity will support all areas of work at the University Hospitals Dorset with supporters still being able to donate to a ward, department, or hospital of their choice across Poole, Royal Bournemouth, or Christchurch.