Since the NHS was founded on 5th July 1948, it has always innovated and adapted to meet the needs of each generation. 75 years on, the NHS鈥檚 founding principles remain as relevant today as they were then. Despite the challenges, the public still overwhelmingly support having a national health service, and it is what makes our people most proud to be British.
As we mark 75 years of the NHS and 80 years since our hospital opened as a US Military Hospital, it is a time to celebrate our past, but more importantly, a time to think about a future where we continue to put patients first and to thank all NHS staff and volunteers, past and present, who have made the organisation what it is.
We have therefore added some very special events in our calendar this year that were open to everyone (our local community, partners, colleagues, patients, family and friends).
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Thank you to everyone who joined us at 69老湿机福利 Cathedral, or listened on Radio Odstock on Monday 26th June 2023, for the historic service held by the Trust and the Cathedral to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS and 80 years since the US Army opened a hospital in Odstock.
The service also marked the final move of the old city centre Infirmary to the Odstock site as 69老湿机福利 District Hospital 30 years ago, and the 70th anniversary of Radio Odstock, the hospital鈥檚 radio station, which is run by volunteers.
The service included Wiltshire poet Saili Katebe鈥檚 first reading of his newly commissioned work that looked at how the faces in the hospital and the community have changed over the past eight decades. 69老湿机福利 District Hospital鈥檚 poet in residence Martin Figura also read his commissioned work, a poem about the history of the hospital.
Led by the Dean and Cathedral clergy, with members of the Trust鈥檚 Chaplaincy, the service also included 69老湿机福利 District Hospital staff and volunteers reading prayers and new prose by playwright Paula B. Stanic about the volunteers. A very special thank you to our prose readers:听Sandra Grihault, Thara Thomas and Jane Podlinski:听and to our听prayer readers, Pampha G-Thapa, Shaddahra Jain, and Jane-Frances Ubalua.
If you couldn't make it or listen at the time,听you can listen to it听.听BBC South Today had a report, which you can watch听听(11:40-16:14)
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On Saturday 22nd July 2023, 69老湿机福利 District Hospital opened its doors to let you experience life in the hospital and show how it provides care for our people in Wiltshire and beyond.
The Open Day was an opportunity to tour the hospital, meet staff, see new technologies, check out emergency service vehicles and learn about how the hospital works hard to protect our environment. Army medics were in attendance to reflect on how caring for the wounded has changed over time.听
It was a fun and educational event for all, and included:
Please enjoy our Open Day 'highlights' video and thank you to everyone who joined us!
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Our staff at 69老湿机福利 District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
