Visit our new Quality Improvement Hub available here. Find resources on QI, innovation and change management as well as tools and models for conducting your own Quality Improvement project.

Visit our new Quality Improvement Hub available here. Find resources on QI, innovation and change management as well as tools and models for conducting your own Quality Improvement project.
Everyone likes a bit of feedback now and again. If you have used our service – this could range from training to Inter-Library Document Supply, from literature searching to referencing help – we wondered if you could take a couple of minutes to complete our impact survey? It can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/libraryimpactsurvey
Here’s what some of our users have said:
“The information gained through books taken out has given me insight into how I can improve my practice as a student nurse and into the future.” (Student Nurse)
“My contacts with the library have been incredibly helpful.” (PALS)
“I feel the library service is a highly valuable resource, and the staff are welcoming and helpful. I feel that the library welcoming both staff and members of the public creates an excellent link for engaging people in their own care.” (Research Nurse)
“I regularly rely on the dch library team to get information to help me manage difficult clinical problems. They are incredibly quick, thorough and helpful.” (Consultant)
We are always interested in how our service can be improved so any suggestions would be gratefully received.
BMJ Best Practice is available to DCH Trust Staff via the Intranet homepage or with an OpenAthens username and password.
Via the Intranet homepage:
Click on the link on the right, below Clinical Guidelines.
Via OpenAthens:
Once you have logged in to BMJ Best Practice, you can create a free personal account. Your personal account details will enable you to download the app.
Via the BMJ app:
Before setting up the app you must log in to BMJ Best Practice and set up a personal account. Next, download the app and log in to that using your personal account details.
For more information on BMJ Best Practice or on how to register for an OpenAthens account please contact the library.
The DCH Library’s Discovery Service is available for you to search our catalogue and resources in one place. You will need an OpenAthens username and password to access full-text content. Use our How to guide to get the most out of Discovery Search.
Take a look at our new books – titles include:
Leadership and Nursing Care Management, by Diane L. Huber, 2018
Hutchison’s Clinical Methods, edited by Michael Glynn and William M. Drake, 2018
Mayes Midwifery, edited by Sue Macdonald and Gail Johnson, 2017
Principles and Practice of Surgery, edited by O. James Garden and Rowan W. Parks
Browse our catalogue for more titles.
The library welcomes you to its Wellbeing Corner, dedicated to providing NHS staff with space and resources to keep them mentally healthy. Our Reading Well for Mental Health Book Collection is situated in this corner; the books are all endorsed by health experts, as well as people living with the conditions covered and their relatives and carers. Also on display is a jigsaw puzzle – come and add some pieces when you’re next in the library! We’ve also provided mindfulness colouring sheets and pencils, should you need some “colouring in” therapy. Our fiction section can also be found in this area.
Why have we done this?
The moral and legal case for effective health, safety and wellbeing in NHS organisations has been well documented over a number of years. This is recognized within the NHS constitution which states that staff have a right to work within a health and safe workplace. The DCHFT People Strategy endorses activities which support health and wellbeing, including mental health. The library is in a good position to be able to contribute to this strategy by providing staff with space and resources on a variety of topics related to staying mentally healthy. Please take a look at the books on our Reading Well for Mental Health Collection
DCH Library team members, Julian Hancock, Library Assistant and Morag Evans, Librarian, were among the DCH Trust staff nominated as Hospital Heroes on Monday evening. Julian and Morag were invited to collect the prestigious awards and attend the NHS 70th birthday tea party at Damers Restaurant. Members of the public, volunteers and hospital governors were invited to celebrate the birthday of the NHS. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra played during the evening and the 70th birthday cake was cut with great pomp and ceremony by two members of the public who were born on the same day that the NHS was created.
The “Hospital Heroes” is Dorset County Hospital’s award scheme whereby patients, members of the public and colleagues can nominate staff for ‘going the extra mile’. Julian and Morag were honoured to be nominated by a nurse who was grateful for the library’s interlibrary loan service and the dropping off of the books at her work address when she was unable to get to the hospital to collect them. She thanked library staff for a “fantastic service and a big thank you…for helping me.” This is Julian and Morag with Patricia Miller, CEO of Dorset County Hospital.
DCH Library is celebrating Health Information Week on 2nd-8th July by promoting good quality health information to Trust staff and patients. You’ll find our stand in Damers Restaurant in the hospital between 1pm and 3pm with Chloe Thomas from Livewell Dorset. We’ll both be on hand to signpost Trust staff to the best apps and evidence to use for and with their patients.
The library will also be holding a raffle with all proceeds going to the hospital cancer charity. All the prizes are themed with health and wellbeing in mind and ticket sales start on Monday 2nd July with the draw and winners announced on Friday, 6th July at 4pm. Please look at our lovely prizes, kindly donated by local firms and shops in Dorchester and Weymouth, including Akemi Spa, Down To Earth health food shop, The Loft café, Weymouth Bay Sea Swimmers and LUSH
Please take a look at our new books – click the photo below to see our latest books in alphabetical order, linked to the SWIMS catalogue:
Don’t forget if you need a book we don’t hold we have an Inter Library Loan service. Just phone (01305 255248) or email library.office@dchft.nhs.uk with the details of the book (or article!) you want.
Alternatively, fill in and submit our online form
Please take a few minutes to read our Annual report DCH Library 2017-18 Key achievements include high compliance of 98% achieved against national library accreditation standards and the successful publication of three case studies on a national website, demonstrating how the library has impacted patient care and staff members’ professional development.