A £3.2MILLION state-of-the-art operating theatre has officially opened at Wimborne’s community hospital.

The Friends of Victoria Hospital funded 95 per cent of the project, which includes treatment rooms and more offices.

Building the Minster Operating Suite, complete with air purification system, took more than 14 months. At a grand opening on Friday, VIPs were given tours of the new facility, designed by architect Stephen Pennington.

Reverend Canon John Holbrook blessed the extension, while Tim Archer from Community Health Services and Doctor David Pope toasted the Friends’ fundraising efforts.

Dr Pope compared the original cottage hospital, built over four months in 1887 and holding just six beds, to the valued and renowned care provider it is today.

“The entire project is of huge, lengthy gestation, but that is not surprising given the complexity of the task,” Dr Pope said.

“The Friends have been fantastic at harnessing the energy in the community and channelling it into appropriate services.

“Staff loyalty and commitment have also been a key part in making this town proud of its hospital.”

He also praised contractor MIDAS for carrying out their work on such a constricted site.

The new two-storey building, where the old x-ray department once stood at the back of the hospital, is the first theatre upgrade in 30 years.

It includes a kitchen, storage and a large recovery room for patients to come round from their anaesthetics.

Sisters at the hospital described the suite as ‘phenomenal’.

Surgeons perform more than 40 operations a week including general, orthopaedic, oral and gynaecological procedures.

For details, visit fvhw.org