Falmouth Community Hospital celebrates 95 years
Falmouth Community Hospital turned 95 years old, after first opening its doors to the public on 26 April 1930. It has provided vital care to the local community and surrounding areas ever since.
The hospital was built on a new site in Falmouth on Trescobeas Road. It replaced the old Seamen's Hospital, which was built in 1750.
It is believed that Falmouth Community Hospital was originally built for ophthalmology and war patients.
The hospital was a gift from William Mountstephens, of Falmouth, and Albert Charles Collins, of Stithians. They were residing in Johannesburg at the time of making the generous pledge.
Today, the hospital includes a minor injury unit and an x-ray department. It also has a range of clinics.
Earlier this year the hospital upgraded its x-ray facilities. The old x-ray equipment was replaced with a new digital x-ray machine. The treatment area was also refurbished.
The hospital's main ward is the Boscawen Ward. With 20 beds it provides inpatient care. It also provides for patients who require rehabilitation following surgery or illness.
The ward also has a space for patients nearing the end of their life. This is a quiet area for them to be with their families.
From the outside, Falmouth Community Hospital evokes memories of a bygone era. It may be close to a century since the hospital was built, but this grand old building has maintained its classic features.
Little appears to have changed since it first opened its doors in 1930. From the outside at least.
Major upgrades inside the hospital are bringing it into the 21st century.
"The building itself is a listed building. It has a level of grandeur. As you walk up it feels quite grand. With its big, stone pillars and the way the building is symmetrical.
"As you go inside you are greeted with an abundance of warm, friendly staff. Whether that is from physio outpatients or our inpatients' staff. We have a minor injury unit there. We are a proud hospital. We have a day hospital there as well. So, we are really promoting and providing care in the community.
"A specialist part of our outpatients is ophthalmology. We provide lots of clinics for that out in the community. That is a real benefit to people that live in and around the Falmouth area. Or for those in the west. They do not have to travel on to the acute hospital." Rebecca Tica, Matron at Falmouth Community Hospital
The hospital has also received accolades for the high standards it has set.
"Both the ward and minor injury unit have achieved really high standards. The minor injury unit (MIU) being silver and Boscawen Ward being gold.
"Falmouth has also led the way in the 'Recondition the Nation' initiative. This is designed to get health and care teams to work together to be creative in identifying and implementing ways to reduce de-conditioning.
"We are also innovative. Boscawen Ward was the first in Cornwall to implement 're-condition the nation.' This is now being rolled out across the Trust. It aims to get people out of bed, rehabilitated, and de-conditioned when they are in hospital. It is amazing that we are role models for this." Rebecca Tica
The hospital has a charitable fund that is used to improve patient services. It is also supported by the League of Friends charity.
The League of Friends funded a local artist to paint a stunning mural in the paediatric bay.
"We are proud of that. When kids or adults with learning difficulties come in it can be scary. It is an amazing space.
"The League of Friends do lots of fundraisers for us. They do tea rounds on the wards and volunteers come in. We have monthly meetings with them, so it is all very present." Rebecca Tica