THE Macmillan unit and specialist palliative care unit at Christchurch Hospital is being temporarily relocated to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

A spokesperson for The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust said this is to help safeguard patients and staff as the Covid-29 situation develops.

They said: “We recognise there is an increased need for high-quality palliative and end of life care to be available to patients throughout RBH.

“The relocation of the service currently delivered at Christchurch Hospital to the Derwent, will improve the ability to safely and rapidly transfer patients from the main hospital site to the area that can deliver specialist palliative care.

“Furthermore, the Derwent has 29 side rooms enabling privacy and dignity, all with access to piped oxygen. The Macmillan Unit has 16 beds, five of which are side rooms. The Derwent is a self-contained unit, with a separate entrance.”