THE Countess of Chester Hospital celebrated 60 years of the NHS with a service of thanksgiving and celebration at Chester Cathedral.
The event, which attracted about 1,000 guests, included music from Chester Music Society, the Cheshire Police Band and Cheshire Schools Choir.
Proceeds from the collection will be split equally between the Cathedral and the Countess of Chester Hospital Charitable Funds – Relative Comfort and the Kisiizi fund.
Relative Comfort, which will be launched in the autumn, aims to raise £500,000 to provide accommodation for relatives of patients on Critical Care.
The hospital also established an institutional link with Kisiizi Hospital in Uganda, which will enable both trusts to share skills, knowledge and information to improve services to the people of both communities served through exchange visits.
During the service, the congregation was welcomed by Canon Chris Humphries, canon in residence, who also gave the final blessing. The worship was led by the Rev John Kingsley, head of Chaplaincy Service (COCH), and the Very Rev Dr Stephen Smalley, Dean Emeritus of Chester, gave the address.
Foundation Trust secretary Stephen Cross said: “We were delighted such a variety of groups were represented at the service, both NHS and non-NHS. The service was a fantastic opportunity to recognise the health service we are fortunate to have in this country.
“We were pleased to welcome back to Chester the Very Rev Stephen Smalley, the Dean of Chester from 1987-2001, who made a fantastic address.”
