The Horton General Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), will celebrate its 150th birthday on Sunday 17 July. In a first, Radio Horton is teaming up with BBC Radio Oxford to present a simulcast featuring highlights from the special occasion.
The Banbury hospital had only two wards when it opened as Horton Infirmary in 1872 – men’s and women’s – and a total of 12 beds.
Much has changed since then at the hospital, which was built with money left by Mary Ann Horton, a local heiress, who bought an eight acre site for £3,000 and added £7,000 to build the hospital.
With the support of volunteers from Radio Horton, colleagues were able to reflect on the hospital’s history and achievements, as well as the success of staff past and present, at an informal lunch event on Friday 15 July.
Celebrations of the Horton’s sesquicentennial anniversary were kick started in June when the Horton General Hospital Charity hosted its annual Horton Fundraising Week. This saw charity staff raise awareness among patients and NHS colleagues about the work they do to make a difference across the hospital.
As part of this, the charity helped organise free breakfast and lunch to thank all staff for all their hard work.
Douglas Graham, Chief Executive Officer at the Horton General Hospital Charity, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to support this beloved hospital during what is a milestone birthday. Horton General Hospital Charity is here to support the staff and patients from funding the very best medical equipment, enhancing staff welfare and improving care for our patients. We’d like to wish the Horton General Hospital a very happy birthday and thank you to all the staff past and present for everything that you do.”
Professor Meghana Pandit, Interim Chief Executive Officer at OUH, said:
A very happy birthday to the Horton General Hospital. This is a fantastic milestone for the hospital, staff, and the community, and it has been a privilege to join with colleagues to mark the occasion and reflect on the excellent work of staff over the years.
“The Horton delivers compassionate excellence to patients in Banbury and the surrounding area and is a fundamental part of our OneTeamOneOUH.
“A heartfelt thank you to all Horton staff past and present who have helped make the hospital such a special place for our local patients. Staff who work here are the heart of their local community”
Banbury’s hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting service, Radio Horton, which, itself has played a significant role in the hospital’s history since its launch in 1964 is teaming up with BBC Radio Oxford on Monday 18th July from 18:00 – 20:00 to celebrate the anniversary with Oxfordshire.
Radio Horton Chair, Sam Smette said
“We’re very excited about being a part of the hospital’s 150th anniversary, it’s an occasion that will itself make the history books.
The Horton General Hospital means so much to so many people locally, and consistently, I’ve heard from present and former staff the sense of community spirit has been prevalent over the last one-hundred and fifty years, it is truly remarkable.”
We are delighted that the people of Oxfordshire can join us in these special celebrations as we join forces with Fleur Ostojak on Monday, featuring stories from the staff and volunteers of our much loved hospital”.
A potted history of the Horton General Hospital can be found on the Radio Horton website.