Open days at popular hospitals a hit with patients

Company news

Jul 14, 2017

Hundreds of people gathered recently at two Care UK hospitals to take part in fun activities and meet Falklands War veteran, Simon Weston CBE.

Visitors to the centres in Hampshire and Kent also had the chance to tour the operating theatres and to learn about the life-changing surgery offered to NHS patients.

Mr Weston officially opened a new x-ray unit at St. Mary’s NHS Treatment Centre in Portsmouth and shared details of his experience as a Welsh Guardsman. Members of the public also enjoyed entertainment from a magician and talked to some of the consultants who perform a wide range of procedures including ear, nose and throat treatments, eye surgery and foot, ankle, hand and wrist operations.

Hospital director Penny Daniels said: “Simon was very entertaining and we were all delighted to welcome him and our visitors to the hospital. Families enjoyed the guided tours of the operating theatre and new diagnostic imaging facilities, especially the children, as they got to see the facilities when they’re not in use.”

At Will Adams NHS Treatment Centre in Gillingham visitors joined the team in raising funds for the Kent Association for the Blind through a raffle and charity bake-off. They raised £320 and are applying to double this through Care UK’s Working with the Community match-funding scheme.

Mr Weston officially opened the centre’s new surgical recovery suite and visitors also joined in demonstrations of basic lifesaving techniques and hand washing using a light box that reveals the germs left behind by ineffective cleaning.

Hospital director Kerry White said: “Simon gave a great talk about his experiences and I know the team found his words inspirational. Our visitors were very keen to meet him and they also had fun taking part in health-related activities, including an eye surgery demonstration and tours of an operating theatre to see some of the equipment used by our consultants.”

Care UK operates nine hospitals that specialise in elective, planned surgery for NHS patients. Visit the Care UK Health Care website for more information.