About

Dorset HealthCare is the county’s leading provider of integrated physical and mental health services, supporting nearly 800,000 people across urban centres, coastal towns, and rural communities.

With over 7,000 staff delivering care from 300+ sites; including community hospitals, GP surgeries, schools, and people’s homes, we provide the backbone of NHS community and mental health care across the region.

We are responsible for all NHS mental health services in Dorset and offer a wide range of community-based physical health services, from district nursing and end-of-life care to sexual health, diabetes education, and safeguarding. We also run Dorset’s 12 community hospitals and minor injuries units, delivering care that’s close to home and shaped around what people actually need.

As a University Trust, we partner with Bournemouth University to drive innovation, promote clinical excellence, and grow the next generation of healthcare professionals. We also work closely with local universities and education providers to continually invest in our people and the quality of care they deliver.

We are proud to be rated ‘Outstanding’ overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a full inspection in 2019. The Trust was praised for its strong leadership, compassionate culture, and commitment to safe, high-quality care.

This rating places Dorset HealthCare among the top-performing community and mental health providers in the country – recognising the hard work of our staff and the innovative, patient-centred approach we take to delivering services across the county.