The NHS is turning 70 and your local hospital is inviting you to join in the celebrations
29 June 2018
Both Chelsea and Westminster and West Middlesex University hospitals are marking the 70th anniversary of the NHS with a Big 7-Tea party and a mini open day on Thursday 5 July, as part of nationwide NHS celebrations.
Both Chelsea and Westminster and West Middlesex University hospitals are marking the 70th anniversary of the NHS with a Big 7-Tea party and a mini open day on Thursday 5 July, as part of nationwide NHS celebrations.
Patients, visitors, staff and the local community are invited to check out our historical photos, talk to our charity, find out about our latest innovations and much more. Our nursing recruitment team will be there for those interested in joining our team and you can find out about volunteering or becoming a member of the Trust—all while enjoying special choir performances and poetry readings from local schools and a visit from our therapy dogs. We will also be launching our annual Staff Awards, giving our community the chance to recognise and nominate the healthcare professionals who have looked after them.
While it’s great to celebrate, we’ll also be looking to the future. Our Trust will soon be starting work on a state-of-the-art expansion of the critical care units at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. We will be significantly expanding and redeveloping our intensive care units to be able to treat around 650 more critically ill adults and babies every year in world-class facilities, which will help patients’ wellbeing and recovery. The redevelopment work will cost around £25 million and is being funded by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and our official charity CW+. We are also progressing with the planned transformation of our children’s wards at West Middlesex through the CW+ Suns and Stars Appeal.
Our CEO Lesley Watts said: “We are delighted to celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS on 5 July as part of nationwide celebrations. This special anniversary has given us an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in healthcare, and the dedication and camaraderie of the people behind it who make it all possible. We look forward to sharing a cuppa with our local community to celebrate our hospitals and the NHS.”
When health secretary Aneurin Bevan launched the NHS, it was the climax of an ambitious plan to bring good healthcare to all. For the first time, hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists were brought together under one organisation to provide services that were free for all at the point of delivery.
70 years later, it’s the perfect opportunity for the nation to celebrate the achievements of the NHS and to reflect on the vital role the service plays in everyone’s lives. For our Trust, it’s a chance to recognise and thank our staff who are proud to be part of the NHS and guide, support and care for our patients and each other every day.