Woman, 96, reunited with husband at surprise party

Elizabeth Ross was reunited with her husband John thanks to a birthday surprise organised by kind-hearted staff at Medway Maritime Hospital.

A 96-year-old woman was reunited with her husband, 97, at a surprise birthday party after she was admitted to hospital with a broken hip.

Elizabeth Ross had been admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital on 14 September after she had a fall at her home.

She told staff she was sad she would not get to spend her 96th birthday with her husband John, who she is the sole carer of, as he was in an assessment centre while she was in hospital.

The great, great grandmother, said it was the longest time the couple have spent apart since they married on 17 August 1949 - apart from when John had served in the Navy.

Penny Horton, ward matron, and Sarah Burton, acting ward manager, arranged a surprise birthday tea party in the ward’s day room last week.

They also arranged for John to be brought in to the hospital to join her for the party.

Four of the couple's five children, as well as some of their 13 grandchildren and other family members also attended the surprise party.

Mrs Ross, who worked as an auxiliary nurse at Sheppey General Hospital on the Isle of Sheppey for 25 years, said if was "beautiful".

She added: "I can’t thank the staff enough for what they did for me.

"When I go home, we will be going home together.”

Mr and Mrs Ross were joined by four of their five children

Jayne Black, chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the hospital, said: "This is a shining example of how they really do go above and beyond when it comes to the mental wellbeing of patients during their stay with us.

"I know the event meant a lot to the family and that it really helped to put a smile on Elizabeth’s face."