A DORCHESTER firm has handed more than £6,400 to the Dorset County Hospital Charity.

NFU Mutual Agents and staff at the Dorchester firm recently nominated the cause to receive a donation of £6,443 from the company’s national £1.92 million ‘Agency Giving Fund’.

The donation will support the recently-launched Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.

The rural insurer launched the fund, now in its fourth year, to help frontline charities across the country as part of a £3.25m funding pledge for local and national charities in 2023.

The new Emergency and Critical Care Appeal is funding major enhancements to the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, with construction soon to get underway at Dorset County Hospital.

Matt Uren, senior partner at Dorchester NFU Mutual, said: “For the second year running, we’ve decided to use our Agency Giving Fund to support Dorset County Hospital.

“As a team, we all live locally and have seen the difference that the hospital has made to a great many of our customers, providing quality care on our doorstep.

“We also know that the hospital needs greater funding if it is to continue to deliver such great care.

Matt Uren and Pete Galloway from NFU Mutual with Critical Care staff outside ICU

“When we heard about the charity’s new appeal, we were delighted to have the opportunity to support such a worthwhile project.”

Simon Pearson, head of charity at Dorset County Hospital, said: “We thank Matt and his NFU colleagues for their continued support.

“The new Emergency and Critical Care Appeal will fund a number of significant enhancements to the new-build departments including visitor and staff overnight accommodation, a paediatric bed space and a patient garden.

“Support from our corporate supporters is particularly welcome at this early stage of the appeal as it helps us to increase awareness and share the importance of this major project with our local business community.”

For more information about the NFU Mutual Agent in Dorchester, visit www.nfumutual.co.uk/dorchester, and for details of the Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, visit www.dchcharity.org.uk, or email charity@dchft.nhs.uk.