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Help us celebrate 70 years of the NHS!
This year marks 70 years since the foundation of the NHS – and we want you to help us celebrate.
Every one of us has been touched by NHS services in one way or other. This year’s anniversary offers a great opportunity to celebrate past achievements, recognise the support and care our staff continue to provide on a daily basis, and look forward to future developments. Over the coming months, this page will showcase a selection of stories, photographs and videos which tell the story of Dorset HealthCare, and publicise any NHS birthday celebrations in the local area.
You can help us by sending in any old photographs or sharing your memories of our services, whether as a patient, carer, volunteer or staff member. Perhaps you have close links with one of our community hospitals? Or fond memories of receiving treatment from our school nursing service? Maybe our mental health services got you through a difficult period, or you recall seeing a VIP open one of our facilities. If you can remember what health care was like before the launch of the NHS, we’d also love to hear from you. Just email your story (no more than 250 words) and/or photographs to dhc.communications.team@nhs.net. And if you are planning any parties to mark the occasion or fundraising events in support of one or our ‘Friends’ groups, let us know and we will publicise them here.
Look out for regular updates on our Twitter page. You can also find out more about the national NHS birthday celebrations on a special NHS England website, and read about activities planned by The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital, Poole Hospital and Dorset County Hospital on their websites.
Community hospitals are a cornerstone of the NHS. They provide that friendly care in your local area, whether you’ve sprained your ankle, are recovering from a major operation or need on-going therapy support. Dorset HealthCare currently runs 12 community hospitals across the county. As the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, we look at the story of the Victoria Hospital in Wimborne, which began long before 1948….
Watch the video
Dorset HealthCare employs staff in scores of different roles at sites across the county. To mark the 70 th birthday of the NHS this year, we are showcasing some of the fantastic people who work for us and provide quality care day in, day out, to local people.
Read her story
The Matron of the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Helen Lawes, tells us how the hospital will be celebrating the asks you to help her by sending her your memories of the hospital.
We're pleased to share a selection of classic newspaper clippings from over the years. Many thanks to the Dorset History Centre for giving us access to the archives and to the Daily Echo Bournemouth for letting us share them. Click the images for larger versions.
A selection of images from Yeatman Hospital from the 1950s and 60s. Click the image for a larger version.
Use the blue arrow at the bottom of the images to see how things have changed at a selection of our sites over the years.