Dorset County Hospital - Ridgeway Ward

LST Projects successfully delivered its first scheme for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, transforming the former Ridgeway ward into a dedicated orthopaedic surgery unit.

The refurbished space provides 24 beds, a patient lounge, and a therapy suite to support recovery. Works included new internal partitions, upgraded flooring and sanitaryware, full redecoration, and installation of mechanical systems, including an air-handling unit craned onto the roof — a carefully planned operation.

With the unit located between two main entrances and ambulance drop-off points, the site compound was set up in a live car park. Logistics were tightly managed, with major deliveries and the crane lift scheduled well in advance. Planning for the lift began 12 weeks prior, as both entrances needed to close for the day.

Throughout the project, close collaboration with hospital teams ensured disruption was kept to a minimum. Weekly meetings with the client helped to manage the programme and schedule any noisy works around the activities of neighbouring operating theatres. Nursing staff were also actively engaged as the build progressed, helping shape final details and ensuring the space met their day-to-day needs.

Funded by NHS England and designed by Kendall Kingscott, this scheme forms part of a wider programme aimed at reducing waiting times for appointments and surgical procedures — supporting better patient outcomes across the region.

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