Weston General Hospital celebrates turning 40
In 2025/26, hospital teams treated almost a quarter of a million people
Western General Hospital is celebrating its 40th anniversary today (16 September).
Located in Uphill, in Weston-super-Mare, the hospital serves a population of over 200,000, offering a wide range of NHS services including cancer care, cardiology, emergency services, and maternity care.
In 2025/26, hospital teams treated almost a quarter of a million people.
Staff at the hopsitall will be celebrating the anniversary with tea, cake, a historic photo exhibition and performances from poet in residence Beth Calverley and Marvin Muoneké.
Since its establishment in 1986, originally commissioned to bring together services from Queen Alexandra Memorial Hospital, Royal Hospital, and Ashcombe House Maternity Hospital, Weston General Hospital has expanded significantly.
In 2003, the Jackson Barstow Wing opened, enhancing oncology and haematology care, followed by the Seashore Centre in 2007 which improved paediatric services.
Recent advancements include the 2023 opening of the Same Day Emergency Care Unit, supported by a £5million investment from NHS England.
Nurse Helen Arnold who treated the hospital's very first patient on day one is still working in its Emergency Department today.
The hospital's achievements have also been recognised nationally on several occasions.
In 2007, the Weston Integrated Sexual Health programme was honoured by the Terence Higgins Trust, and the Haematology team received the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence award in 2023.
Fern Jameson, Director of Nursing at Weston General Hospital, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Today, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Weston General Hospital. I am immensely proud of the welcoming, caring and special place it is, and has been for the past four decades.
“Weston General Hospital represents the thriving community it serves, through the people who we care for, our passionate, ambitious, and dedicated colleagues, and our supporters who have taken on bed-pushes, knitted, ran, walked and swam in support of our hospital.
“As we celebrate 40 years of Weston General Hospital, I want to recognise everything that has been achieved so far, as well as the exciting vision we have for health care in Weston in the future.”
In April 2020, Weston General Hospital formally joined University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which later became Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) in July 2026.
Maria Kane, Chief Executive at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Over the last 40 years we have made massive strides in providing high quality, joined up and closer to home care for people in Weston and North Somerset.
“This has been possible thanks to the dedication, drive and compassion shown by our teams every day, who continue to innovate and collaborate with communities and partners to deliver for local people.
“Working closely with primary care, community services, and voluntary and community organisations we are putting focus on providing the services and support our population needs to live well, for longer.
“Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Weston’s rich past, present and future.”