Funding from the Friends of Wareham Hospital has made it possible to bring the NHS mental health services team for Purbeck, all under one roof in newly refurbished premises.

Formerly, the team which covers Wareham, Swanage and all the villages in between, was based in council offices in Wareham but now they’ve moved into freshly decorated accommodation within Wareham Hospital.

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Wareham Hospital4

Services at Wareham Hospital often serve the whole of Purbeck including Swanage

“Happy to help with this important move”

In order to support the relocation, Wareham Hospital Friends offered £30,000 to help provide suitable office space.

Chair of Friends of Wareham Hospital Maggie Hardy said:

“Boosting mental health services in Purbeck is really important and it’s good to offer the team a base from which they can work.

“They offer clinics across the area, including Swanage, and having a central office space makes it easier for the team to be able to talk to each other and coordinate the service.

“The £30,000 has come from our fundraising efforts and represents about 75 percent of what we had saved in our bank account, so we will have to do more fundraising to replenish our funds.

“But as a Purbeck wide service, the Friends are very happy to help with this important move.”

Gardening by Friends of Wareham HospitalFriends of Wareham Hospital

Friends of Wareham Hospital have been spending time improving the gardens

Chemotherapy clinic was major loss to Purbeck

The future of Wareham Hospital has been in doubt over the years with plans proposed to demolish it and replace it with housing, which were then later scrapped. NHS Dorset Healthcare says Wareham Hospital has now been secured for the future.

During the Covid pandemic, the hospital came into its own, providing the Covid jab to the population of Purbeck.

After the pandemic, the Friends campaigned to get clinics and services to return to the hospital, and while they have been successful on some fronts, it was a bitter blow for the whole of Purbeck when the chemotherapy clinic was closed down.

This has left some of the most vulnerable and ill people in Purbeck faced with no choice but to travel to Poole Hospital.

The Friends continue to campaign for the return of the chemo clinic and have been backed by MP for South Dorset Lloyd Hatton who has put their case directly to the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

Maggie Hardy with MP Vickki Slade and Brad Rootes Locality manager at Wareham HospitalFriends of Wareham Hospital

Maggie Hardy (left) with MP Vickki Slade (centre) and Brad Rootes (right) NHS Dorset Healthcare locality manager visiting Wareham Hospital

Support to retain vital clinics

The MP for Mid Dorset Vikki Slade, who recently visited the hospital, is also keen to show her support for Wareham Hospital and its services.

Maggie said:

“Vikki Slade was very interested in the family eating disorder clinic which runs Monday to Friday at the hospital.

“The service providers were really keen to tell her that their contract only runs until March 2026, which of course they hope will be renewed, as do we, as it’s such a valuable service. It makes great use of the hospital building, and clients often use the garden too.”

Gardening by Friends of Wareham HospitalFriends of Wareham Hospital

Adding colour to the hospital garden

Hospital garden transformed

The garden at Wareham Hospital is another project undertaken by the Friends and it’s in with a chance in the RHS South and South East in Bloom competition in the ‘It’s your neighbourhood’ category.

Every Tuesday morning, members of this small team have quietly transformed the hospital garden, enhancing the garden area for patients and visitors who enjoy the peace and tranquility .

Maggie said:

“We’re always keen to have more volunteers come and join us, whether it’s in the garden, helping with fundraising events, or becoming a trustee. We’d love you to help us with our work.

“We’re holding our AGM on Wednesday 17th September 2025 and a coffee morning in Wareham Town Hall on Saturday 20th September 2025 – there’s an open invitation for everyone across Purbeck to come along!”

Gardening by Friends of Wareham HospitalFriends of Wareham Hospital

Creating areas of tranquilty for patients and visitors

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