Publish date: 8 July 2024
Haltwhistle celebrates a decade of success
A rural hospital which has served Northumberland for more than 100 years is celebrating a decade since the current facility was rebuilt.
Staff and visitors joined the hospital’s League of Friends to mark the occasion with a specially decorated cake and a display of photographs from the past 10 years.
While healthcare services have been provided from the site in the town for more than 100 years, the hospital was rebuilt a decade ago in a scheme with Northumberland County Council to provide hospital and social care services from the same building.
Northumbria Healthcare's director of communications, Ross Wigham, who joined the celebrations, said: "A huge thank you to everyone who took part, especially the League of Friends who have provided so much support to the hospital over the years.
"This is an amazing facility for rural Northumberland and it’s clear to see how much the local community values the care, compassion and expertise right on their doorstep.
"Talking to staff and patients really brought home how important these local services are for rural communities and it was amazing to see our talented staff at work."
Among the guests was Jackie Banks, who was born at the hospital in 1965 before beginning a career there as a domestic. She was then given the opportunity to train and develop her career and is now the ward manager.
Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital was part of the town’s pioneering £4.6million integrated health and social care scheme, which was one of the first facilities of its kind in the country to provide hospital and social care support under one roof.
The leafy town is largely surrounded by woodland and farmland, but is also close to one of the best-preserved sections of Hadrian’s Wall which draws tourists from around the world.
The 17-bed hospital sits in the centre of town and provides high-quality care for a range of patients from the local community.
The multi-disciplinary hospital team provides specialist support and rehabilitation including occupational therapy and physiotherapy for patients who need extra help to prepare them for going home.
They also provide palliative care for those approaching the end of life and a minor injuries service which is open 9am to 5pm every day.
The modern building is now 10 years old and offers single, en-suite rooms offering the utmost privacy and dignity, with one room specially adapted for bariatric patients.
As well as providing an excellent resource for local people, they also take patients from the larger hospitals at Hexham and Cramlington, freeing up space for emergencies and treating local people much closer to home.
There is also a minor injuries unit which helps keep people out of A&E, offering more immediate treatment for those who need it.
The staff at the unit have formed a tight-knit bond and often get to spend more time with the patients because of the rural location, making it a great place to work, train or get care.
This video from 2022 showcases the community celebrating 100 years of the hospital.