Celebrations to mark Rotherham Hospital's 40th year

Cllr Eve Rose Keenan — herself a hospital chaplain — cut a cake to mark the ruby anniversary on Tuesday, before taking a tour.

She said afterwards: “I’ve been around several wards in this amazing hospital and I’ve seen commitment like you wouldn’t believe.

“I went to thank these folk on behalf of the borough, because they deserve some thanking.

“Times aren’t the easiest for the NHS, but the morale and the sense of belonging and togetherness of the staff are still there.”

Many long-standing members of staff attended an exhibition in the foyer on Tuesday, see this week's Advertiser to find out more about their hospital tales.

Rotherham Hospital factfile:

• Oakwood Hall Hospital was a First World War sanatorium for soldiers gassed in the trenches.
• The building was badly damaged by fire, so in 1969 plans to replace it were drawn up.
• Construction of Rotherham General Hospital began in 1972 and work was completed in 1978.
• In 1984, Doncaster Gate Hospital’s special care baby unit (SCBU) was transferred there.
• By 1985, it had 2,000 staff and eight years later this number had grown to 2,800 as new specialist departments were built.
• A CT scanning unit was opened the same year, after a public appeal raising £900,000, and MRI scanning was offered from 1994.
• Telephones and TVs were installed at at every bedside in 1999.
• The BreathingSpace respiratory service was opened in 2007, funded by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
• The hospital’s main entrance was remodelled in 2010 and the state-of-the-art Urgent and Emergency Care Centre was opened last year.