The Trust Aims:

To provide efficient, high quality ambulance and prime care out-of-hours services together with associated activities for the resident and transient population of Dorset. We will anticipate and be responsive to the changing needs of both the service and local community and are committed to providing the best possible patient care and valuing the professionalism of our staff.

On October 1st 2004 Dorset Ambulance NHS Trust took over responsibility for the provision of out of hours GP provision for the county of Dorset. The service had previously been supplied by a combination of DDOC (Dorset Doctors On Call) and Primecare with some areas being covered by surgeries.

Dorset Ambulance had been operating DDOC for seven years so was ideally placed to take over the responsibility for the whole county. The operation centres on a new control suite in the service communications unit at St Leonards near Ringwood. Work began on converting former office space in July with completion during September Overseen by Project Manager, trust Deputy Chief Executive Roger Ferre.

DDOC staff formed the nucleolus with others joining the trust from the Primecare offices in Bournemouth which closed following the loss of contract. Many local GP’s have signed up for shifts with the new service with additional doctors coming from the Primecare operation and some from outside the area including Europe.

The service operates thirteen treatment centres with three (Bournemouth, Poole & Dorchester) based in major hospitals, Most of the others (Bridport, Weymouth, St Leonards, Christchurch, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Lyme Regis) are based at minor injury units or in community hospitals, one is a nurse operated unit (Swanage), One is a Community Paramedic/ nurse practitioner unit (Portland) and one is an ECP/nurse unit (Bridport).

The Lyme Regis Ambulance Station is based here: