Basildon to the future – looking back on 50 years of Basildon Hospital
Basildon Hospital, part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, celebrates 50 years of providing health services for the community.
A campaign for a hospital to serve Basildon began as early as 1954, with construction finally beginning on the then £7 million 32-acre site in 1967.
The very first person to receive treatment at the newly opened hospital was Rita Morrell, aged 6, from Tilbury.
Although some sections of the hospital were not completed at the time of opening, the maternity unit was and a Mrs Jacquelyn Carte, from Vange, gave birth to the first baby, a girl called Nina, on April 2.
April 3 saw the birth of the first boy, Chay, who was born to Mrs Gillian Sims-Welford of Benfleet.
Since the hospital welcomed its first patients in 1973, it has undergone many changes to allow it to meet the needs of its community. In 2002 the 321-bed Jubilee Wing was opened, soon followed by a dermatology centre in 2004, and the opening of the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in 2007.
The hospital merged with Broomfield Hospital and Southend Hospital in April 2020, creating Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest acute trusts in the country.
A new entrance for Basildon Hospital was officially opened in November 2022 by the Mayor of Basildon and Deputy Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Luke Mackenzie and Cllr Sue Little cut a bright blue ribbon to herald the opening of the £7.6 million building.
Today, the hospital carries out almost 400,000 outpatient appointments and delivers almost 4,000 births each year.
Here’s to the next 50 years…