THERE have been three new coronavirus-related deaths recorded in one day at Dorset County Hospital.

Figures released by the NHS show three patients have died with coronavirus at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) in Dorchester on Thursday, December 9.

The figures provide the latest coronavirus-related deaths across the county leading up to Monday, December 13.

The last recorded Covid-19 death at DCH - prior to the update - was on Wednesday, December 8 when a single patient at the site died with Covid-19.

It brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths at the site up to 139 since the start of the pandemic.

Elsewhere, there has been a total of 804 Covid-19 deaths recorded at the University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) since the start of the pandemic.

Latest figures show the latest patient to die with Covid-19 at the UHD site was also Thursday, December 9.

UHD incorporates the former Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust, as well as Poole Hospital.

Dorset Healthcare, the trust responsible for community hospitals and mental health care, has recorded 73 Covid-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, with the last recorded Covid-19 death at Dorset Healthcare Universities Trust was recorded on March 14.