Based in the heart of Dorset’s major emergency hospital, this site benefits from a recently redeveloped building with state-of-the-art-facilities and improved visitor car parking .
The site has close links to primary care in the area, and recruits from one of oldest populations in the UK, with a growing number of residents over 65. Specific nearby areas, notably Christchurch, have been identified as having one of the highest proportions of over-85s in the UK.
This population is very keen to take part in research, and this site has many loyal and repeat participants. People are generally healthier and live longer than the England average, with life expectancy at roughly 83.3 years for women and 79.7 years for men, according to public health figures. However, significant health inequalities exist, with a 6-7 year life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived areas, and about 5% of residents reporting poor or very poor health