Stafford County Hospital staff celebrate 40th anniversary

Originally called Stafford District General Hospital, the site opened in 1983

A week of celebrations are planned by hospital staff in Stafford to mark the 40th anniversary of County Hospital.

The hospital opened in 1983 on the site of Coton Hill private psychiatric hospital, which was demolished in 1976.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which runs it, said it would be sharing 40 stories from over the years for the anniversary.

A plaque will also be unveiled to mark the occasion.

Over the past 10 years, the trust said it had invested in a new and expanded renal unit at the hospital and a new chemotherapy unit as well as made improvements to theatres and refurbished multiple wards.

This year the hospital has also seen the opening of the Staffordshire Treatment Suite and North Midlands Hand Centre, the trust said.

It was built on the site of Coton Hill private psychiatric hospital

Tracy Bullock, UHNM chief executive thanked staff for the hard work and dedication over the years.

"Along with the recently opened Staffordshire Treatment Suite and North Midlands Hand Centre, I hope people are starting to see the major investments that have been made at County Hospital," she said.

"Ophthalmology, breast care, bariatrics and orthopaedics have also all been heavily invested in over the past 18 months, as we develop our services here at County Hospital so it has a sure and sustainable future and is part of our long-term strategy as an organisation."

'Like a family'

Sam Eaton, a ward manager, said she was born prematurely at the hospital in 1985 and treated in the special care baby unit, and later grew up wanting to be a nurse.

"I'm County through-and-through - if I was a stick of rock I'd say UHNM in the middle," she said.

"Even my two sons, Matthew, 12, and Joseph, nine, were born here. County is like a family, we all know each other.

"We all greet each other with a smile and we always have, we're a proper little family. County for me is home and I would love to stay here and progress my career."