Ward name first to honour a woman

Two wards at Dorset County Hospital are merging to create a centre of excellence for the care of older people.

Barnes Ward and Day Lewis Ward have now merged as the Mary Anning Unit, a name the ward team picked in honour of the famed palaeontologist –the first unit at DCH to be named after a woman.

Divisional head of nursing and quality Sonia Gamblen said: “In England there are 295 older people per 1,000, whereas in Dorset this figure is 527. The population of those aged over 75 is projected to grow by 28 per cent over the next 10 years in Dorset. We need to embrace the needs of our older population.”

The specialist unit will meet the complex care needs of frail older people and promote professional support and training.

Care workers to have wage rise

Care providers are being asked by Dorset Council to pay care workers an additional £1 per hour to take their hourly salary up to £11.50/hour when commissioned through the local authority. It comes after the council announced its uplift in care fees in the community for 2023, for care businesses that work with the local authority through the Dorset Care Framework.

Farewell florist

Florist’s Lavender Blue Flowers in Bridport is closing on Saturday, May 27 after 19 years. Owner Sue Clark, 64, is retiring.