As Stockport’s local health services celebrate 70 years of the NHS, some of those born in the same year are joining in with the celebrations.

Pat Hart was born as Pat Davenport at Stepping Hill Hospital in December 1948, making her one of the earliest Stockport babies born within the new health service. Pat says her mum, now 90, had been saving up a weekly fund for maternity care, but was pleased to find out that thanks to the new NHS she no longer needed it.

Both Pat’s children, Andrew born in 1973, and Samantha born in 1975, also came into the world at Stepping Hill Hospital too. Andrew was born prematurely and so had to be cared in the hospital’s special care baby unit before he was able to come safely home.

Pat said “Over the years both my children and my mum have had to have several treatments and surgical procedures, and their treatment has always been excellent. I would like to thank the staff at the hospital for the care and attention shown to me and my family ever since the NHS was first introduced in 1948.”

“I hope the hospital continues to prosper in the future. We are so lucky to have such a brilliant hospital on our doorstep.”