FORMER patients and staff both past and present at Evesham Community Hospital came together for a celebration to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS.
A number of events were held across the county including at the Waterside venue which hosted a special tea party in its newly-finished sensory garden.
The event was open to the public, patients in the hospital and staff both past and present to celebrate the history of Evesham Community Hospital and the NHS.
Many of those who attended were born at the hospital when there was a maternity ward there and they were able to view names in the record of births register and in the record of creed book.
There was also a display of old equipment which formerly used at the hospital as well as pictures of the hospital throughout the years.
Alex Abbott, who has worked at the hospital since 1958 was on hand to answer questions about the hospital and its history.
The site of the hospital was originally used for a workhouse. In 1938 it became Avonside Hospital and was later renamed Evesham Community Hospital – meaning the hospital has been serving the local community for 80 years, making it older than the NHS.
All but two of the original workhouse buildings have been demolished and the hospital has seen many upgrades and additions to allow it to continue to serve the local community – most recently stroke rehabilitation services for the whole county were centralised there.
Shirley Hodgetts, matron at Evesham Hospital said, “We had a lovely day in the sunshine in our new sensory garden. We were joined by lots of people who were born at the hospital and many former staff members.
“There was lots of cake and laughter and we all thoroughly enjoyed celebrating our fantastic NHS.”
