In pictures: Royal Lancaster Infirmary celebrates NHS' 70th birthday

Staff, governors and patients got into the birthday spirit at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary to celebrate the NHS's 70th birthday.
Staff at the RLI celebrating the NHS' 70th birthdayStaff at the RLI celebrating the NHS' 70th birthday
Staff at the RLI celebrating the NHS' 70th birthday

And two babies born at the hospital now share their birthdays with the National Health Service.

On Thursday July 5, special tea parties were held in the restaurants at the RLI, Furness General Hospital (FGH) and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) to thank UHMBT and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust staff and volunteers.

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Around 150 people tucked into sandwiches and cake and raised a cuppa to the NHS reaching its milestone birthday.

One of seven babies born at UHMBT on the anniversary of the NHS Dad Lee Hall, baby Olivia Hall and her brother George Ellis.jpgOne of seven babies born at UHMBT on the anniversary of the NHS Dad Lee Hall, baby Olivia Hall and her brother George Ellis.jpg
One of seven babies born at UHMBT on the anniversary of the NHS Dad Lee Hall, baby Olivia Hall and her brother George Ellis.jpg

Roz McMeeking, Matron for Gynaecology at UHMBT, said: “Happy 70th birthday NHS. Well done. I have spent the majority of my career working on this ward and a

lot of mums, dads and babies come through it.

“My mum has always said to me that when you go to work you are going to be part of someone’s special day and I think we as midwives really appreciate that.

“It is a real privilege.”

Ian Robinson and son Oliver James Robinson, who was born on July 4.Ian Robinson and son Oliver James Robinson, who was born on July 4.
Ian Robinson and son Oliver James Robinson, who was born on July 4.

On Wednesday July 4, Radio Lancashire visited the Maternity Unit at the RLI, where Oliver James Robinson was born on Wednesday July 4, at 2.38pm, weighing 7lbs 8oz.

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During the celebrations at the hospital on July 5, Olivia Hall was born, one of seven babies born across the trust who all now share their birthdays with the NHS.

The NHS was launched on July 5 1948 and had three main principles - that it meet the needs of everyone, that it be free at the point of delivery, and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay.

Matthew Bradley, Waiting List Co-ordinator for General Surgery, UHMBT, said: “We had a great afternoon at the tea party. I’m immensely proud to be a part of a national institution and a national treasure. We’re all here because we care and it’s good to spend time celebrating how decades of that same attitude has brought us this far.”

Staff on AMU RLI celebrate 70 years.jpgStaff on AMU RLI celebrate 70 years.jpg
Staff on AMU RLI celebrate 70 years.jpg

Ann Addenbrook, Ward Clerk, UHMBT, said: “I feel very proud to be part of the NHS in its 70th year and being involved in our patients experience on the amazing newly built South Lakes Birth Centre. As a nation, we need to treasure the NHS as it is a fabulous organisation. A huge thank you to all who contributed to our afternoon tea party - it was well organised and a wonderful event, and it was so

interesting to see all the memorabilia on show.”

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Lynne Wyre, Director of Nursing In Hospital, UHMBT, added: “The tea parties across our hospitals were not just about marking 70 years of the NHS but were also

a celebration of our appreciation of the outstanding contribution our staff and volunteers and our community colleagues make to the organisation. They really do go above and beyond to provide the best possible care for our patients.”

As well as joining NHS organisations across the country in celebrating 70 years of the NHS, UHMBT is also celebrating the 20th birthday of when the Trust was formed on 1 April 1998 from the merger of Lancaster Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Westmorland Hospitals NHS Trust and Furness Hospital NHS Trust.

Lots has been going on across the Trust to celebrate these two huge milestones, including:

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 Aerial photos of staff, volunteers, governors and partners in the shape of a number 70 at the Trust’s three main hospitals

 Thank you BBQs offering free food to UHMBT staff, volunteers and governors took place on Friday 29 June

 Members of the Lancaster Medical Museum led a small display of historical medical equipment at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary on Wednesday 27 June

The celebrations don’t stop there! There is much more planned for the rest of the NHS70 year, including free talks for the public across Morecambe Bay about

Staff at the RLI tea partyStaff at the RLI tea party
Staff at the RLI tea party
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healthcare in years gone by. The talks will focus on the story of Eric Cooper, dentist at the Colditz Prison Camp, and include a small display of historical medical equipment. October’s talk will also include a talk on Lancaster Medical Museum.

Anyone can attend these talks and there are still places available!

People can book a place for the talks by contacting the Membership Office on 01229 404473 or by email at: [email protected]. They can

also book online using the below links:
 11 July from 6pm at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal:

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https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-colditz-to-morecambe-bay-a-talk-tomark-70-years-of-the-nhs-tickets-46518917334

 26 September from 6pm at Furness General Hospital in Barrow:

 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friom-colditz-to-morecambe-bay-a-talk-tomark-70-years-of-the-nhs-tickets-46520212207

 24 October from 6pm at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary:

 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-colditz-to-morecambe-bay-a-talk-tomark-70-years-of-the-nhs-tickets-46521423831

Details of other future events and celebrations will be shared soon! For more information, visit www.uhmb.nhs.uk, follow us on Twitter @UHMBT, or like us on

Facebook at www.facebook.com/UHMBT.

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