University Hospitals Dorset announced on 9 March 2026 that it has delayed the next phase of its £500 million hospital project, which affects the relocation of services to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Bournemouth, Dorset. The pause was caused by building issues at the new Coast Building, where the main contractor reported that construction work would not be finished on time.
The departments affected by this hold include the Emergency Department, critical care, and child health inpatient services currently based at Poole Hospital. These teams were due to move to the Bournemouth site as part of a long-term plan to make the Royal Bournemouth Hospital the main centre for emergency care in the region.
According to University Hospitals Dorset, the Emergency Department at Poole Hospital will remain fully open 24 hours a day during this delay. Families are also advised to continue taking children and babies to the Poole site for emergency treatment until the moves are officially rescheduled.
Hospital leaders are currently speaking with the building company to manage the impact of the setback and find out when the project can get back on track. The trust expects to release an updated timeline for the service moves to the public by the end of March 2026.
