THE next stage of the major development around University Hospitals Dorset begins next weekend, leading to new site access at Royal Bournemouth Hospital and temporary road closures at the Poole Hospital site.

At Royal Bournemouth Hospital, from August 2, new access will be in place as part of the construction project to create the new maternity, children’s, emergency, and critical care centre on the site.

From that date the current main entrance will close with a new upgraded west entrance opened as well as a new retail pharmacy and orthopaedics outpatients on site.

As a result, the current Boots and WH Smiths stores will be closed. However, plans are in place to relocate both stores within the new building.

At Poole Hospital, a small section of Longfleet Road will be closed from July 30 to August 2, to allow for the installation of a new 50 metre tower crane ahead of the construction of the new theatre complex. The closure has been coordinated with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and teams across the hospital to maintain the best traffic and pedestrian access as possible. Diversions will be in place for through traffic, with hospital access for ambulances and pedestrians maintained over the weekend.

Richard Renaut, UHD chief strategy and transformation officer said: “This is an exciting time for University Hospitals Dorset as we start the next stage in our major transformation programme which will modernise and develop our sites so that they are fit-for-purpose for their longer-term future.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience that the busy weekend of diversions and changes to our entrances will cause - we are working closely with our contractors and Council partners to ensure disruption is kept to an absolute minimum. “

The latest developments are part of a major reorganisation of services across the county which will see Royal Bournemouth Hospital becoming the centre for emergency care, with Poole Hospital becoming the main centre for planned treatment in east Dorset.

Stuart Groom, project manager, Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the trust’s principal contractor, said: “Starting the next phase of the construction programme is an important milestone for the transformation project and we look forward to continuing our productive partnership with UHD over the coming months.”

Overall, the £250m investment is the largest commitment of healthcare funding in Dorset’s history, representing a once-in-a-generation investment towards future healthcare provision for the whole of the Dorset and surrounding areas.