Transformation in health care services highlighted in annual meeting

An online meeting this month will offer people an insight into the way local NHS services are evolving in the face of the COVID-19 virus.

Dorset HealthCare, which provides community physical and mental health services across the county, is holding its Annual Members’ Meeting on 21 October, and for the first time it will be online to comply with national restrictions to limit the spread of the virus. This will help illustrate how technology is changing the way the Trust provides support, care and treatment.

Trust Chair Andy Willis, who will host the meeting, said:

“This has been a year of huge and rapid change for health services in Dorset. Technology has been one of the ways Dorset HealthCare has been able to adapt services so that we can continue supporting local people during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

“Our Annual Members’ Meeting will highlight how we’ve changed the way we do things and made a difference to patients in a range of our community and mental health services, enabling us to provide vital support even when we can’t see people face to face. We’d be delighted to welcome local people to this meeting and to hear their questions.”

The meeting will also include reflections on the challenges of the past year from Chief Executive Eugine Yafele and Lead Governor Jan Owens, and a look ahead to future plans and opportunities.

Anyone can log in to the meeting, and there will be an opportunity to submit questions too. It will be held on Microsoft Teams from 3.30-5pm, though you don’t need a Teams account to take part.

If you would like to attend, just register your interest at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/AMM and we’ll email you a meeting link and details of what you need to do.