Page 35 - Real Rochdale - Autumn 2018
P. 35

The NHS was formed on 5 July 1948 and has            staff celebrated 70 years of the NHS.
         provided services that  have transformed the well-   The celebration was attended by Mayor
         being of the nation, as wealth is no longer a factor   Mohammed Zaman, members of staff, local citi-
         determining a person’s access to health services.    zens, and councillors connected to the Infirmary.


         In 1948 Rochdale Infirmary had 30 beds and two       Mayor Zaman commented: “I’m proud of our NHS
         main wards for males and females. One small ward     and the people who work hard every day to make
         was provided for children.                           the NHS available. The Rochdale team are brilliant.”


         In 1993, Rochdale became the first town to com-      Allan Cordwell, Head of the Emergency Planning,
         plete the new methods of nurse training introduced   Resilience and Response Unit at Oldham and
         in Project 2000 nursing.                             Rochdale, said: “My life was saved by the NHS in
                                                              1991 and because of that I ventured into nursing.
         The hospital was first instituted in 1832, under the
         name of Rochdale Infirmary and Dispensary.           “20 years later, I’ve been deployed in Iraq as a
                                                              medic and worked in A&E departments helping
         A new hospital was provided in 1883 by Thomas        with emergency planning.
         Watson, a local mill owner and philanthropist,
         which became Rochdale Infirmary.                     “All the staff in Rochdale supported the
                                                              celebrations and we hope we can continue to keep
         In July, Rochdale Infirmary welcomed visitors as     staff trained and patients safe for years to come.”




























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