The first of thousands of hospital patients to be seen at the new ‘health village’ in Poole's Dolphin Centre will have their appointments next Monday.

The outpatients assessment clinic opens on Thursday after the facility, on the second floor of Beales department store, was built from nothing in a matter of weeks.

The scheme is the first of its kind in the country and part of the local NHS ‘Think Big’ programme which aims to make inroads into the huge waiting lists backlog, currently around 80,000 appointments.

Deputy director of transformation for Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, Ash Boreham said: “Make no mistake, this will make a huge difference. It will save lives. We are ready to go.

He added: “Everyone has been involved in designing this from the consultants, nurses, logisticians, estates people, administrators and patient navigators. It's all about flowing the patient through."

The 20,000 square foot clinic, constructed using material and equipment from decommissioned Nightingale hospitals, will cover ophthalmology, dermatology, breast screening and musco-skeletal services.

Mr Boreham added: "This kind of facility, rather than a truck in a car park, stops people not turning up. And not turning up to screening is why people die. This changes lives and saves lives.

In breast screening one patient can be seen every seven minutes.

Chief executive of University Hospitals Dorset, Debbie Fleming said the project had "really lifted people and captured the imagination. We have had a lot of challenges in the pandemic and this has been our fight back.

"The partnership and innovation has been amazing. We know we can do better for our patients and this has been designed around them.

UHD chief operating officer, Mark Mould, said it would have a massive impact. "When we are fully up and running we could be seeing 25-30,000 patients a year, seven days a week. This has to be the future, where people not only receive their healthcare but also wider lifestyle and wellbeing advice and support."

Dozens of volunteer navigators will help with patient flow.

The groundbreaking initiative, which has already been looked at by the NHS nationally, will also bring footfall to Poole town centre and in some cases help make a medical appointment less of an ordeal.

Tony Brown, chief executive of Beales said: "We are delighted to be able to play our part in this. It's important from a medical standpoint of course, but also for the future of the Dolphin Centre and Poole town centre."

He said although the contract was for three years, he felt it could be much longer term.

"This is an absolutely ideal location for patients with the car park and public transport links and coming to the Dolphin Centre with family members for support, rather than a hospital setting should make the experience less daunting."

FACTFILE: Waiting lists

Admitted (inpatient): 11,749: Patients about who a decision to admit has been made and whose treatment will involve admission to hospital.

Non-admitted: 40,634: Patients whose treatment does not involve admission to hospital. Typically these patients are awaiting outpatient review or treatment.

Follow up waiting list: 16,320: Patients have received treatment and require further follow up review typically via outpatients.

Breast screening: 13,201.