This year the NHS celebrates its 70^th birthday. We thought a great way to celebrate it would be to hold an Open Day with the theme of #NHS70 – the NHS past, present and future.

Some of our many services will be showing what healthcare was like in the past, how it is now and what it might look like in the future.

We will have on show equipment used in healthcare in decades past, for example old equipment used to test your hearing and old lenses and artificial eyes. We’ll also be exploring how roles, such as those of nurses and therapists have changed since the NHS first started. Being a Major Trauma Centre, we’ll be able to explain how things like survival rates have changed (and improved!) for patients and why.

From the chance to step into a modern day operating theatre to viewing our unique historic library collections, from discovering more about blood  and the history of microscopy to cracking bones, from finding out how research has changed over the years to trying your hand at delivering a mock baby … we’re inviting people to come along and find out more.

Download our programme for full details

But the #NHS70 Open Day won’t be all looking back. By very popular demand, we’ll once again have a Careers Fair so those interested in being our future staff and volunteers can find out more about the opportunities available. You can book in advance to attend talks by some of our specialist staff groups using our app.

We have also teamed up with our two local universities – the University of Plymouth will be joining us on the day with interactive stands around podiatry and dietetics. They will also be bringing their training ambulance along to the event so visitors can explore how Paramedic Practitioners are trained.

Plymouth Marjon University, just across the road from Derriford Hospital will be opening up their sports centre and health areas to demonstrate activities such as rehabilitation.

Being a military hospital benefiting from the Defence Medical Group South West, our military colleagues will be with us on the day with Casualty Sim to interact with and a display of RNH Stonehouse amongst other things.

For those interested, we’ll once again be running our popular behind the scenes tours too.

Over the next few weeks we will bring you more information about some of the many activities which will be on show on the #NHS70 Open Day using this blog. So please keep visiting and we hope to see you on the day. There will be free car parking for the Open Day in Car Parks C and D – site map here.

Come along for a day of interactive fun and education for all the family. For more information and to book on to events or talks, please download our app: http://bit.ly/NHS70PlymouthApp

Hope to see you there

Amanda

Head of Communications