One of Yorkshire’s largest private hospitals celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Champagne and Afternoon Tea event. This was one of a series of celebratory events planned throughout September, it brought together consultants, staff members, patients and other guests who all have close connections with the hospital.
They were joined by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun David Congreve and the Lady Mayoress, Janet Harper JP.
Many of those attending have connections with the hospital even before it opened in 1989, and many of the consultants and staff have worked for the full 25 years at the hospital.
Special guests included Raymond Shaw – one of the first patients to benefit from treatment at the hospital in 1989 and Robert Probett, the 1000th patient to have heart bypass surgery at the hospital in 1999.
They were joined by Leeds historian Margaret Plows, who was brought up in Roundhay Hall’s South Lodge as her father worked as a gardener and then caretaker at the Hall (which later became Spire Leeds Hospital), between 1946 and 1973.
Mrs. Plows has researched the history of the building and compiled it into a book telling its story since it began life as a private house in 1841.
Celebrations included the unveiling of a large “timeline” featuring photos, illustrations and commentary about the hospital’s 25 years, which inspired guests to reflect on some of the advances in medical care over the last quarter century, which have helped to establish the hospital as a centre of medical excellence.
Spire Leeds Hospital was originally built as a private home in the 1800’s and since then has had various uses including a convalescent home for injured soldiers, a nurse training school and a specialist women’s hospital.
Today the hospital, which changed its name to Spire Leeds Hospital in 2007 after BUPA Hospitals was sold, has six state-of-the-art operating theatres, 88 beds, and more than 350 consultants working in a range of specialties. The hospital continues to grow. Over the last few years Spire Leeds Hospital has also opened private outreach clinics in Ilkley and Harrogate to provide access to Spire’s leading consultants in local areas.
Anna Tchaikovsky, Hospital Director of Spire Leeds Hospital, said: “We were delighted to be joined by so many doctors, previous patients and staff at this special event who all share in our rich history. One of the reasons we can offer such excellent service is because we are lucky enough to have so many staff who have such long experience of the hospital.
We look back at the last 25 years with pride. Our consultants and staff have worked hard to establish Spire Leeds Hospital as a centre of medical excellence. I look to the future with excitement as we continue to invest heavily in the hospital, with the highest level of treatment and care of patients at the heart of everything we do.”
