There’s an opportunity to find out what health and wellbeing services are available to Purbeck residents and a chance to speak to the providers at an event at The Mowlem in Swanage, Dorset.
The health and wellbeing fair in The Showbar at The Mowlem is open to all and takes place on Thursday 2nd October 2025 from 11 am to 3 pm, with a 35 minute film in the theatre at 12.30pm.
The event will be held at The Mowlem on Shore Road in Swanage
Healthcare providers working closer together
The free event is organised by the NHS Purbeck Integrated Neighbourhood Team which was set up in autumn 2024 with the aim of getting GPs, community nurses, physiotherapists, mental health teams and social services working closer together, along with Dorset Council and the voluntary sector like Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, to provide a more joined up experience for patients.
The integrated neighbourhood teams scheme is a government initiative which is being rolled out across England and Wales.
Swanage’s new Focus Centre is able to provide a home for lots of health and wellbeing providers
“A lot of good work going on in Purbeck”
Purbeck Primary Care clinical director and one of the leads for the Purbeck Integrated Neighbourhood Team, Anna Darling said:
“When we first formed the integrated team it was clear that many of our staff didn’t know about all the healthcare services available in Purbeck, so we realised that if they didn’t know, then it was likely that residents weren’t fully aware either.
“There is actually a lot of good work going on in Purbeck and the health and wellbeing fair is a way to showcase what’s available.
“We have 14 local providers of healthcare who will have stands at the fair, including Dorset Healthcare which runs the Swanage and Wareham community hospitals, the Adult Mental Health team, Steps to Wellbeing, Swanage’s Focus Centre, Friends of Wareham Hospital, MSK services, Admiral Nurses, Wessex Cancer Alliance, Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, our health visitors, as well as others.
“Then there is the film which was produced in Purbeck with interviews from local NHS staff and health providers. We asked them to describe what they do and how they work, so we all have a better idea of what they offer.”
“We all want to work together and to avoid duplication, for the good of everyone.”
Swanage community hospital is a lynchpin of healthcare in Purbeck and provides a number of clinics, but sadly is no longer able to provide day surgery or endoscopy services
Chance to ask questions
There will be plenty of chances to ask questions about local healthcare and the services that are provided and how to access them, as well as the opportunity to find out what services may or may not be returning to Purbeck like the chemotherapy clinic and the rheumatoid clinic, which used to be provided by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust.
Expected to attend will be MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole Vikki Slade, whose constituency includes Wareham Hospital, as well as the locality managers for Dorset Healthcare, who run Swanage and Wareham community hospitals.
Further information
- Everyone is welcome to just turn up for the event, however there’s a request for people to book a seat, free of charge for the film at 12.30 pm via The Mowlem website
