Bridlington Hospital birthday celebrations

Bridlington Hospital is celebrating a milestone birthday and to help celebrate the hospital doors will be thrown open to friends, families and visitors to showcase the great work of the hospital - both past and present.

On Saturday 7 July, everyone is invited to the hospital’s open day to visit Yorkshire’s flagship mobile chemotherapy unit , drop in on the wards, take a unique behind the scenes tour of the hospital facilities, food taste in the canteen… and much, more!

For the younger ones there is a unique opportunity to jump on board visiting emergency response vehicles - from an ambulance, fire engine, police car to a coastguard vehicle.  They can also have their face painted, call in at the outpatients department to have a plaster cast and even watch our surgeons hard at work as they perform ‘operations’ in the theatres!

For anyone interested in working in the NHS, there will be careers information available and NHS health trainers will be on hand to offer advice on how to stop smoking and information on healthier living.  Not forgetting that the NHS is turning 70 this year, there will be photographs and images on show telling the story of bygone years.

Mike Proctor, Chief Executive, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:  “This year Bridlington Hospital turned 30 and the NHS turns 70 on 5 July, so this event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of one of the nation’s most loved institutions.

“The event will celebrate all the fantastic work that goes on at Bridlington Hospital and will showcase how it has changed and evolved over the years.  In recent years the hospital has earned a fantastic reputation in terms of patient experience and for delivering high quality, efficient care for elective surgery, of which staff should feel rightly proud of.”

The event will be supported by colleagues from York Teaching Hospital Charity who will be organising a teddy bear hunt and there will be a tombola courtesy of the Friends of Bridlington Hospital.

The event will be officially opened by the Mayor of Bridlington at 10.00am.  Joining the Mayor will be Tina Rycroft, who was the first baby was born at the hospital in March 1988.  They will be joined by several members of staff who were there when the hospital first opened its doors thirty years ago and who still work there today.

Rebekah Walkington, who is part of the staff group who planned and organised the event, said: “The birthday celebrations are a great way to showcase all the great work that is going on at Bridlington Hospital.  It will also give everyone from the local community a fantastic opportunity to come down to meet staff and understand what work goes on behind the scenes.

“There is a real buzz of excitement and anticipation throughout the hospital and it’s fantastic to see everyone coming together to ensure that the day will be a success.  I know I speak for all the staff when I say we very much hope that people will come along and show support for their local hospital and the NHS, for what promises to be a fun and lively event.”

The open day, which is free and open to everyone, will take place between 10am to 2pm, with free parking available.  There will be live music throughout the day and refreshments will be available.

Although the hospital received its first patients in March 1988, it was officially opened by the Duchess of Gloucester on May 16 1989, bringing together services from three former hospitals.

22 June 2018