Teams look back on history of healthcare in Northumberland as NHS marks 72nd birthday

This infirmary in North Shields was one of the many institutions that existed in the past.

Sunday, July 5, marks 72 years since the NHS began and many will be taking this opportunity to reflect and remember some of the sacrifices made during recent months in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The anniversary also offers the opportunity to look back even further and reflect on the role of health and care in the lives of Northumbrians over the centuries.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is working with award-winning author and historian, Dr Dan Jackson, to explore the history of medicine and care in the region in a story that goes back as far as Roman times.

The aim is to publish a book, The History of Healthcare in Northumbria: From Hadrian’s Wall to the 21st Century, which explores how healthcare has played a vital role in the collective history of Northumberland and Tyneside.

It will incorporate facts, stories and photos from the organisational archive as well as staff and patient anecdotes from the past.

The book is not yet completed, but a teaser chapter to mark the NHS 72nd anniversary is available here – https://tinyurl.com/y7ttdy5c – while a slideshow of historical pictures is available at https://youtu.be/kB_-ZL-1770

The trust’s chief executive, Sir James Mackey, described it as a ‘fascinating piece of work celebrating health services in Northumberland and North Tyneside’.

“This project is an excellent way to mark not just the NHS anniversary, but also the long history of service to the community that health and care staff have given the public right throughout our history,” he said.

“In these past few months, we have seen the NHS challenged in a way that we have never seen before, so we are all reflecting and recognising the work of people who care for others and I think getting a historical context will really support this.”

The project is being developed by Bright Northumbria, Northumbria Healthcare’s registered charity, and anyone who has stories or photographs to share should contact [email protected]

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