HUNDREDS of hospital patients are set to be seen each at clinics on the top floor of Beales department store in Poole's Dolphin Centre in a bid to tackle long waiting lists.

The radical initiative is initially planned to cover dermatology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and breast screening.

These face-to-face clinics will help determine what should happen next – for instance if patients need to come into hospital for an operation, or be given specialist advice on managing with treatment at home or in the community.

The space in Beales will be converted into a safe, clinical area for tests and screening.

The move is in response to the growing waiting lists following many cancellations because of the Covid pandemic.

The new centre is planned to welcome its first patients in the autumn and will also increase footfall into the town centre, which has good public transport facilities.

And by setting up a breast screening unit in the middle of Poole the NHS will be able to offer women from all over Dorset the opportunity to have mammograms which were delayed by Covid.

Mark Mould, chief operating officer of University Hospitals Dorset, said: “Last year our hospitals had to respond to the rise of Covid-19 and completely redesign services.

"This meant we had to, very reluctantly, cancel many appointments. With all the social distancing guidelines, our hospitals are not going to be able to tackle the subsequent rise in our waiting lists so we needed to think big to deal with the problem, as we know what an effect this can have on the patients waiting and their families.

"Using this fantastic space in Beales, we can design the area specifically so we can see more patients, more quickly and we hope this will make huge inroads into our lists.”

Dr Ruth Williamson, deputy chief medical officer, UHD said: “We look forward to welcoming patients to the new centre in Beales to help progress their treatment as we know how frustrating and challenging these delays can be.”

Tony Brown, CEO of Beales added: “Beales is proud to be working in partnership with the NHS on this innovative development. We hope that our setting, away from hospital, will help patients relax as they come in for their appointments and we know that the Dolphin Centre if very well situated for local transport links.

"We are also looking forward to working with the many volunteers who will be involved with the project to help all those coming in.”