Local community turn up in force to celebrate hospital anniversary

Over two thousand people turned up to West Middlesex University Hospital’s open day on Saturday 21 September, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the opening of the new hospital.

The hospital atrium was filled with around sixty different stalls representing a broad range of different hospital services from Audiology through to a Zumba class for stroke patients, led by a very entertaining Elvis impersonator!

There were many behind the scenes tours of the hospital, with one of the most popular being of the operating theatres. To add to the atmosphere there was a variety of live entertainment including a Filipino cultural presentation - by the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics volunteers.

The children’s zone went down well with families, with a magic show, face painting, cake decorating as well as allergy testing. Also popular was the career’s zone, with experts on hand to giveinformation and advice on the many and varied careers available in the hospital and wider NHS.

A stand by the organ donation team signed up over fifty people, which potentially can help save the lives of 450 people. Visitors were able to be tested for a number of common health conditions including diabetes, blood pressure and get their body mass index (BMI) assessed.

The hospital was joined by a number of partner organisations including Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust, the London Ambulance Service who brought along one of their ambulances for people to explore and the London Fire Brigade brought a fire engine.

MP for Brentford and Isleworth Mary Macleod joined the celebration, as did the Mayor of Hounslow, leader of Hounslow Council and the Mayor of Richmond.

Chief Executive Dame Jacqueline Docherty said: “I would like to thank everyone who helped make our first open day such a resounding success. Everyone that I spoke to on Saturday, both staff and visitors alike, were very impressed with how incredibly successful the hospital open day was. I think it exceeded everyone’s expectations and the feedback we received from the many visitors bore this out. We are now planning our next open day for 2014, so watch this space!”