PUBLIC Governors are trying to get more people to take an interest in Dorset County Hospital.

They have launched a campaign to increase membership of the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust had 3,286 public members at the end of March and a dedicated team of governors are hoping to bring that number up to over 3,500.

Membership is free and open to any adult in the Dorchester hospital’s catchment area.

The governors set up a recruitment stall at the hospital’s Damers Restaurant, where they encourage members of the public to sign up and will be holding further sessions in the future. The first event saw the stall manned by Weymouth and Portland public governors Sue Bruce-Payne, Michel Hooper-Immins, Andy Hutchings and Abbigail Langstone-Wring.

The governors handed out membership leaflets to members of the public and recruited a number of new members on the spot.

Two of those to join the Foundation Trust on the day were former mayor of Dorchester John Antell and his wife Julie.

Mr Hooper-Immins said: “We want to encourage more patients and interested members of the public to join the Foundation Trust and take an interest in their hospital.”

To join the Trust contact Liz Beardsall on 01305 255419 or email Elizabeth.Beardsall@dchft.nhs.uk