An exhibition to honour and cherish the precious memories of Accrington Victoria Community Hospital has opened at Accrington Library.
Accrington Victoria has been a key part of the community for over 100 years, but last December East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) moved services out of the building because it was no longer fit for purpose for their teams or patients.
It was a heart-breaking and tough decision - but a necessary one to carry on providing safe, personal and effective care to patients, and the Trust has stayed true to its promise to keep key services local.
Knowing how much local people hold Accy Vic in high regard, the exhibition aims to commemorate and preserve the history, love and memories for the community and future generations to bestow.
ELHT Chief Executive Martin Hodgson said: “I know how strongly people in Accrington feel about the hospital and I want to respect and recognise its incredible history. It has been at the heart of the town since 1894 and certainly before the NHS began and this exhibition highlights some of the key moments in life that have happened there.
“We have taken care to preserve artefacts, images and historical plaques from the site and many of them form part of the exhibition, along with personal stories of past patients and colleagues who paint a true picture of a hospital that didn’t just serve the community, it was the community.”
One person to share her story is Gail Dickinson, 67, who worked in domestic services at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital for over 20 years. Accrington born and bred, Gail called the hospital ‘a little family’ and said it had become part of her.
Another is Ann Parkinson, 77 who worked at the hospital for 46 years. Her long service in nursing was recognised by being invited to open a new suite in the hospital along with MP Greg Pope. The plaque erected had their names on and remained on the wall of the Victoria Suite until the hospital’s recent closure. After the exhibition the plaque will be given to Ann to keep.
She said: “It was a lovely gesture being honoured that way and so nice to now see it being shown in the exhibition for even more people to see.
“And what’s even lovelier is that I now always have a little piece of Accrington Victora to cherish.”
The exhibition will be running until the end of April.
If you want to find out more about any of the memorabilia displayed please email accrington.victoria@elht.nhs.uk
Accrington Library is open Monday and Tuesday from 9am-5pm, Wednesday from 9am-7pm, Thursday to Saturday from 9am-5pm. The library is closed every Sunday and Bank Holidays.