POOLE Hospital is encouraging staff to take to Twitter to keep patients and colleagues informed about what's going on.

The new policy was announced on Twitter by the hospital's Chief Operating Officer, Mark Mould who has been using social media to make announcements and observations about the NHS for four years now.

In a tweet published this morning, Mr Mould said: "Across Poole we are encouraging people to join the Twitter experience, sharing with staff, patients& carers the work we do at Poole - the two latest recruits are our Matrons in maternity."

He told the Bournemouth Echo: "I am encouraging teams to keep patients, staff and others aware of information that people may find helpful/useful. Also want to encourage openness. Just one of the many ways of teams or individuals to communicate."

In the past Mr Mould has used Twitter to question the number of homeless people in Bournemouth town centre as well as praise staff who have had the flu vaccine.