It is the trauma centre for east Dorset and provides specialist services such as cancer treatment for the entire county.

The hospital's maternity unit lies opposite the main building in St. Mary's Road.

[3] The new hospital, designed by the architect Walter Andrew,[4] cost £3,369 to construct and contained 14 beds.

[7] The new hospital was formally opened in a ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth II in July 1969.

[9] In 2009 the hospital treated 46,815 inpatients, 172,710 outpatients, 17,597-day-cases and 56,557 people attended the Accident & Emergency department.

[9] Specialist palliative care is provided in a purpose built unit named Forest Holme.

It provides midwifery and obstetric care, and there are approximately 4,0000 deliveries by maternity staff per year across the hospital and community settings.

The award was given following an analysis of all UK hospitals which measured hygiene and cleanliness levels and rates of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA.