The Friends of Blandford Community Hospital

Registered Charity : 800482

Serving the community since 1948

The Friends organisation was founded in 1948 and will celebrate it’s diamond Anniversary next year.

We are a registered charity committed to supporting patients and former patients of Blandford Community Hospital and other invalids within the local community who are sick, convalescent, disabled, handicapped, infirm or in need of assistance and generally to support the hospital in delivering excellent standards of treatment and care. We are also part of the Dorset network of Leagues of Friends and affiliated to Attend, The National Association of Friends.

Our membership, currently approximately 1000 members, also provides a representative voice in local healthcare matters and this is of course of utmost importance as services continue to change throughout the area.

This website is designed to give you an overall view of the Friends, our projects, fundraising and activities.

With your support, we do make a difference, click here to read about how.

Blandford Hospital

Blandford’s first hospital was founded in 1889, when public subscription, local enthusiasm and the generosity of the Portman Family resulted in the opening of a small, 5-bed establishment in Salisbury Street.

The interest of the Portman family continued, and just two years later they provided a new purpose built cottage hospital on the present site.

Over the years because of the continual support of the public and the Friends, there were extensions, and the addition of more up to date amenities, such as an X-ray unit and a massage department. Within the limits of size and facilities, the hospital served the town and district extremely well.

Then, in the late 1970s, came the exciting plans for great developments: the building of a modern, and well equipped Community hospital, to serve Blandford and the surrounding villages with medical services previously quite unobtainable outside the large district hospitals at Dorchester, Weymouth and Poole. Visits by consultants mean far fewer treks to the district hospitals. The Day Hospital caters for those who need part-time care and attention; the Milldown Unit for mental health needs; te X-Ray, ultrasound, physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy give much needed local services; and the 3 wards provide both long term and short term care for patients in this area.

In recent years the hospital, with the support of the Friends, has continued to go from strength to strength. There have been many changes in the management of health care services throughout the area with the merger of the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) into a central Dorset PCT and these changes are ongoing. The hospital however continues to thrive and provide excellent care to our local community.