STAFF at Minehead and Williton Community Hospitals celebrated the 70th birthday of the NHS in style last Thursday.

Both held tea parties, with staff turning out in starched aprons and nursing outfits from the past, and there were displays of old medic.al artefacts and old time music.

At Minehead, the district nurse team started the ball rolling by dressing up: “We just did it to celebrate 70 years of the NHS, but the ward joined in, and all of the two hospitals were celebrating, ” said district nurse Mandi Usher. “It was really good.

“A lot of people dressed up, some of the porters too, there were old photographs, old time music being played in the hospital – it was lovely.

“It all turned into a bigger event than we’d expected and the patients and everyone really enjoyed it.”

Mandi, who spent five hours making old style aprons and hats for nursing colleagues to wear, added: “It was definitely worth it, but they were a bit hot - I’m glad we don’t wear that anymore!”

At Williton, the hospital celebrated in various ways, including a special tea party complete with 70th birthday cake and tasty treats donated by local shops.

They also turned the Brabazon Room into a museum for the day, with a display of medical and nursing artefacts to view - including the contents of a district nurse’s bag and a machine for electrical therapy for rheumatism, made from Bakelite.

They gathered documents and photographs spanning the history of Williton Hospital from its start, when it took over the workhouse building (and some patients), to the present day.

“Staff dressed in starch caps and aprons and lots of visitors came in, including lots of previous staff who enjoyed spotting themselves in photos,” said Sarah Pearse, Meadow Ward clerk.

“We had a wonderful afternoon celebrating the 70th birthday of the NHS.

“Special thanks to the Bakelite Museum in Williton and Dulverton Surgery for the loan of the artefacts, and the local Co-op and Spar generously donated lots of treats.”