All are welcome to come along to the Friends of Swanage Hospital’s annual meeting to hear from the chief executive of Dorset Healthcare – the NHS trust which runs Swanage Hospital in Dorset.
The Friends of Swanage Hospital AGM takes place at 2 pm for a 2.30 pm start on Wednesday 25th September 2024 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue, Swanage.
The Friends of Swanage Hospital AGM will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Victoria Avenue
Reducing barriers between community and hospital care
The meeting will be about Swanage Hospital, its services, staff and the wider context in which it operates within Dorset Healthcare.
The hospital offers a minor injuries unit, x-ray department, the 15 bed Stanley Purser ward, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and an outpatient department.
Matthew Bryant was appointed in 2023 as the joint CEO of Dorset Healthcare and Dorset County Hospital with the aim of increasing joined-up working across the two NHS trusts and reducing the barriers between community and hospital care.
He previously led the Somerset health and care system boards for planned and unplanned care, and spent more than a decade at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, where he led surgical and medical services as well as redesigning care for frail older people.
The hours of the minor injuries unit were reduced in June 2023 and on the day of the Swanage Carnival Parade on Sunday 28th July 2024 – the town’s busiest time of the year – it was closed for the day
“Opportunity to ask questions”
Friends of Swanage Hospital is a charity, independent of the NHS, but works closely with Dorset Healthcare to fund services and improvements within the hospital to benefit the local community.
It was founded in the 1950s with the aim of supporting the health needs of patients in and around Swanage.
Chair of Friends of Swanage Hospital Deirdre Selwyn said:
“I’d urge anyone who has an interest in Swanage Hospital to come along to the meeting to find out more about the hospital and Dorset Healthcare. It will be a good, informative meeting with an opportunity to ask questions.
“Over the last few years, the Friends have been able to fund the refurbishment of the ward and day room, and provide a garden, relatives’ room, staff room, meeting room and a new car park. This is all due to the generosity of local people who have donated or left a legacy in their Will.
“Anyone can come along to the meeting although we are always keen to grow our membership. It’s important to show that Swanage Hospital is widely appreciated by the community so please do support your hospital and come along to our AGM.”
Swanage Hospital was originally built in 1894 as a memorial to George and Elizabeth Burt, becoming an NHS hospital in 1948
Further information
- More about Friends of Swanage Hospital
- Become a Friend
