COMMUNITY hospitals are a cornerstone of the NHS and most have been around a lot longer than the service itself, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month.

Their job is to bring care closer to home and in that way they provide a vital link between the NHS we have today and the one our grandparents would recognise from 1948 when it started.

Wimborne’s Victoria Hospital is an excellent example of this type of care. It’s one of 12 community hospitals run by Dorset HealthCare and started life in 1887 when the first stone was laid on June 29 by Lady Glyn.

The building was opened later that year to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It had just nine beds, and was managed by a dedicated matron and her servant, who were on call 24 hours a day, all year round, stopping only to take a breather on Christmas Day!

Nowadays local residents have access to 25 beds, a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) and outpatient department, as well as a state-of-the-art theatre, x-ray unit, day surgery and endoscopy suite – all overseen and managed by 150 dedicated staff.

Matron Annette Barrow says it’s hard not to love a hospital that means so much to local people.

“It is really apparent from speaking with our patients how important it is that they have a community hospital close to home, and we strive to continue providing the highest standard of care,” she says.

“It’s vital we have a wide range of services so people don’t have to travel miles to get the treatment they require, and having these services on their doorstep means everything to them.”

She also praised the hospital’s ‘fantastic’ volunteers, who give up their time to

help out across the wards and departments, whether it’s making tea or helping maintain the grounds.

Karen Royles has worked in the MIU for the last 22 years and says: “We can see up to 50 people a day in the MIU, with all sorts of injuries – you never know what you are going to get. Our patients really like it because they can walk in without having to make an appointment.”

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the generosity of local people.

Although the hospital isn’t solely reliant on donations now as it was in the past –local farmers would provide the majority of its food, for example – a combination of legacies and financial gifts have enabled the hospital to expand its services and acquire some of the best medical equipment around.

The Friends of Victoria Hospital continue to play a key role in this. They oversee and manage donations and through their hard work and dedication have helped raise more than £10million since 1935.

The group has more than 1,000 members who contribute small sums through a monthly subscription, and help decide how the money is used in the hospital. It also a runs a small charity shop in the centre of town which brings in funds.

Friends Chairman, June Tripp, says: “We are a long-standing organisation and play an important role in making sure the kindness of local people is spent wisely at the hospital.

“We funded the new endoscopy suite, theatre and x-ray department here, as well as numerous pieces of equipment to keep us up to date, which costs hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“It’s a circle, really – the staff do excellent work and local people are grateful, and want to give something back. Residents are so generous which says a lot about how much the hospital means to them.”

The hospital is continually looking at ways to improve its services. This summer, for example, will see the introduction of a new out-of-hours GP service, which will be on site from 5.30-8pm, Monday to Friday, as well as weekends for booked appointments.

The Victoria Hospital will be marking the 70th birthday of the NHS with a garden fete on Saturday, Jul 21 from 2-4pm. All money raised will go to the Hospital Charitable Funds.

*You can watch a short clip about the hospital at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/nhs70