75years of the NHS
75years ago the Cardiff City Mental Hospital joined the NHS and was re-named Whitchurch Hospital.

Earlier today we were at our local archives, The Glamorgan archives down in Leckwith, Cardiff.
We had a fantastic and informative tour of behind the scenes at the archives by Rhian Diggins.
To finish Rhian had picked some wonderful Whitchurch Hospital items that are held at the archives and some general NHS items
Diolch yn fawr iawn / Thank you so much
By Mike Jones
Christmastime once more. A time of year that encourages reflection and reminiscences about those bygone days and nights spent at Whitchurch hospital. For my own part, as a student nurse, I vividly recall one 1970’s winter night. Based on a ward, I looked through falling snowflakes at the white world outside. Trees, shrubs, grounds, bandstand, all smothered in a thick duvet of white, here and there dusted by a soft, warm glow from the light of a ward window. There was an almost spiritual, poignant silence; a Whitchurch Hospital silence. A silence that invited reflection. A silence that invited nothing more than an opportunity to marvel at the beauty of it all, away from the routines and crises of the day, where there was often no time at all to marvel at anything, apart, perhaps, one’s ability to complete the many tasks required in such a short space of time.
And then, of course, there were the magical shows and concerts. Seasonal entertainment was a tradition in most hospitals, and Whitchurch was no exception. Records of entertainment exist from its earliest years via programs announcing songsters, choirs, vignettes, orchestras, musicals, comedians, instrumental soloists, and so on. This tradition continued to cascade down the decades, all invariably presented and performed in the magnificent, ornate main hall. For many patients and staff, the annual highlight was the Christmas pantomimes. These involved many hours of preparation and rehearsal, and I was privileged to write and perform in a number of these. Here are a few pictorial memories from yesteryear.
Retired Whitchurch hospital nurse and nurse teacher, Mike Jones, has provided a number of seasonal memories of hospital life.
Please get in touch if you have any memories and/or photos to share
So sorry for lack of posts this year, no reflection to a lack of activity or exhibitions.
Since our wonderful city showcase at the Cardiff Story Museum we have had a number of exhibitions:
June 2018
University Hospital of Wales
July 2018
Haydn Ellis building, Cardiff University
St Fagans
November 2018
Amanda Cashmore from the BBC interviewed Dr Ian Beech regarding the role of Whitchurch during WW1 and especially its treatment of shell shock, see link below
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45892116
Remembrance Event at the National Museum
Whitchurch Village Library as part of Remembrance Sunday
Rhydypennau Library – small WW1 display until the end of the week
We are very pleased to announce our next exhibition from Saturday the 3rd of March at the Cardiff Story Museum based in the old library building on the Hayes in the City Center.
We will have the City Showcase space which is downstairs and the exhibition will share some of the stories of those who worked and were treated at Whitchurch Hospital. There will also be some artefacts on display from Whitchurch.
The exhibition will run from Saturday the 3rd of March until Sunday the 3rd of June 2018
Photo taken by Eyes2Me Photography
We are very happy to announce our next exhibition at Cardiff Central Library opening on the 6th of March
Please come along and have a look at the exhibition and have a look at the events on during the week
The events are listed on Eventbrite: