Lord Lieutenant of Devon Celebrates 50 Years at the Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital

Sir Eric Dancer KCVO CBE JP, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, visited the Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital in Wonford Exeter on Friday 20 September to help celebrate the hospital’s 50th anniversary.

Sir Eric met members of staff and was given a tour of the hospital by Matron Paula Winter. 

He spoke to staff about the changes they had seen over the years and how treatments and medical procedures had advanced.

He spent time with students from Exeter Junior School who had helped with a project to fill a time capsule that will be opened in 50 years’ time, when the hospital will be celebrating its centenary. The eight children from the school were keen to tell him about the items they had chosen to go in the capsule, and show him copies of the drawings and letters they had done.

In his speech before he officially unveiled the time capsule and a plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary Sir Eric said: “This is a very interesting way to celebrate 50 years of the hospital and I am sure that the people who open the capsule in 50 years’ time will be intrigued.”

Paul Taylor, Hospital Director, said: “The Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital has been a key player in the Devon economy for a long time now. A lot has changed in 50 years: back then anti-biotics were not commonly used, no one had heard of keyhole surgery and imaging technology was very basic. Now we can diagnose and treat very many people much more quickly and effectively. This was a great occasion and we are very grateful to the Lord Lieutenant and Exeter Junior School for taking part today.”