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Wales’ biggest hospital is celebrating forty years of providing care and treatment to millions of patients.The University Hospital of Wales marks its 40th birthday on Saturday November 19th – four decades after the Queen officially opened the massive development on Heath Park.
Past and present staff, those involved in the development of the hospital and patients have all come together to pay tribute to the history of the landmark site and the legacy created by those involved in its remarkable past.
Jan Williams, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “Over the last 40 years, UHW has played an ever more important role in health care, both for the local population, and for people from across Wales, who have needed its specialist and tertiary services.
“These have gone from strength to strength and the hospital has a well deserved international reputation including the fields of dermatology, haematology and nephrology.
“Designed to be the leading hospital in Wales, UHW not only provides excellent health care, it is also a key centre for the training of the nurses, doctors and other health professionals of the future.
“Today, UHW is not only the focal point for everyday healthcare for local people, it is on the world stage for its collaborative research work with Cardiff University in fields including primary care, genetics and psychological medicine.”
Although officially opened in 1971 UHW’s history stretches back to further still. Talks about the need for a ‘university hospital’ – bringing together medical care and teaching – began after the war with a number of sites being looked considered.
The Heath Park site was made available by Cardiff Council. It was easy to get to for all parts of Cardiff and adjoining the then yet to be built eastern trunk roads or Eastern Gateway, making it accessible for other parts of Wales.
In 1953 Welsh Board of Health and University Grants Committee outlined what they wanted the site to be and that formed the basis of an architectural competition.
Official permission for the competition was not given until 1958 due to concerns over funding. Details were finally released in April 1959 with architects S W Milburn and Partners from Newcastle.
Approval for site works and such was given in 1962 with work on the dental hospital part of the site beginning in 1963. The first stage of the dental school opened in 1965 and welcomed its first clinical students in 1965.
Work on the main hospital building began in 1966 with the first areas being taken over for equipping and use in 1970. Her Majesty the Queen officially opened the hospital on November 19th 1971.
Mrs Williams said: “We owe a huge debt to those who designed and commissioned UHW and to all the staff who have played their part over the years in building its reputation for excellent care, training and research.
“We are grateful indeed to everyone who has come forward to share their memories of four decades of care and compassion - we will be sharing these memories throughout the week.”
A Selection of Memories
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| His father cut the first sod at the hospital. | One of UHW's first patients who met the Queen during her visit. | A student nurse who welcomed the Duke of Edinburgh back in 1971. | Worked for UHW's architects. |
