Brampton War Memorial Hospital will celebrate its 100th birthday on 6th September.
Celebrations – led by the Royal British Legion and the Brampton Hospital League of Friends - include a thanksgiving service, re-enactment of the original hospital opening and tea parties.
Brampton hospital is steeped in history. It opened on 6th September 1923 as a memorial for those who gave their lives in the First World War. Since then it has adapted to changing health care needs and still provides a range of health and care services to the local community.
Jill Foster, Executive Chief Nurse from North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s important that we mark this occasion and we are very grateful to the Royal British Legion and the League of Friends for their support. Since 1923, the hospital has cared for patients from Brampton and beyond and the services that it has delivered have developed along with the times.
“There have been many extensions and renovations to the building to make sure it remains fit for purpose and most recently an extension was built to extend and bring the 16 bedded inpatient unit right up to date. The hospital’s charity the Brampton League of Friends contributed significantly to the cost of that work and others over the years.”
When it opened in 1923, the patients were mainly ‘older men’ and gradually services developed to include obstetrics and gynaecology and minor surgery. Now the hospital boasts a range of services including:
- A 16 bed inpatient ward,
- Core physiotherapy
- Midwifery services
- The ICC Community rehabilitation service (Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, assistant practitioners and health care practitioners who visit people’s homes).
- Core physiotherapy services (with a fully equipped rehabilitation gym)
- Specialist Musculoskeletal service.
- Children’s speech and language therapist
- Podiatry
- Mental health services
- Persistent Pain services
- Diabetic eye screening
Tim Cheetham from the Royal British Legion explains how the hospital came about:
“The First World War took the lives of 147 local men of Brampton and surrounding villages, with many more seriously wounded. Determined to build a memorial, a committee was formed and after much deliberating, instead of a monument or statue, they decided to build a hospital that would both honour the dead but also serve the needs of the living. The hospital was to be known as Brampton and District War Memorial Hospital,” he said.
Wednesday’s celebrations will begin with a thanksgiving service at Brampton’s Methodist Church at 10.30am. This will be led by Rev. Tokunbo Asogbon.
Later, at 3.30pm, there will be a re-enactment of the original opening ceremony at the hospital itself. The grounds will have pictures of some of the soldiers who lost their lives and whose memory the hospital is dedicated to.
The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cumbia, Marcia Reid Fotheringham J.P, will cut a ribbon to commemorate the opening 100 years ago. After this, there will be an indoor garden party in Brampton Community Centre.