County show to back life-saving county hospital development

Dorset County Show has announced its chosen Charity of the Year is Dorset County Hospital Charity.

In what is set to be the largest investment in healthcare provision in West Dorset in 25 years, the hospital is planning to build a new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit on the site of the former Damers First School. This will significantly improve the hospital’s capacity and transform the experience of patients and their families.

Dorset County Hospital Charity is running a £2.5M Capital Appeal to fund enhancements to the planned new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.

Nicki Ralph, chair of the region’s largest annual agricultural show, knows all too well how vital the critical care services at the local hospital are. Her farmer husband, Nic, was admitted last year with total kidney failure and sepsis. He spent nearly three weeks in a coma in intensive care, 11 of those days on life support.

Nicki said: “This truly is a cause close to my heart. My family are indebted to the incredible support the hospital gave my husband who, without a shadow of a doubt, wouldn’t be alive today without their unstinting help. All the staff were amazing. They left no stone unturned to find out the cause of my husband’s sudden deterioration.” www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk