MEDICAL staff past and present gathered at Trafford General Hospital to recreate a historic moment in British history - the birth of the NHS.

Trafford Hospital is widely considered the ‘birthplace of the NHS’ as health minister Nye Bevan chose the hospital to stage the symbolic event of ‘receiving the keys’ from Lancashire County Council on July 5, 1948.

This marked the start of the National Health Service.

For the first time, hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists were brought together under one umbrella organisation to provide services that were free for all at the point of delivery.

The NHS was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth

Thirteen-year-old Sylvia Diggory became the first NHS patient to be treated at the hospital.

The event on July 20 was part of an annual ‘Wellness Day’ held to celebrate the contribution Trafford's medical staff make every day.

If you attended the recreation and would like to request copies of the pictures taken, contact Joanne Berry on 0161 746 2914 or by e-mailing joanne.berry@cmft.nhs.uk.