Old equipment to make new sculpture
A unique sculpture to mark the 70th year of the NHS will be unveiled at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s (SaTH) annual Fun Day – thanks to a special partnership with the British Ironwork Centre.
The centre has agreed to make a striking sculpture using obsolete hospital equipment.
Old pieces of equipment that can no longer be used or repaired include obsolete blood pressure monitors, parts of hospital beds, surgical hands, microscopes, a former anaesthetic machine, a broken dialysis machine and wheelchairs.
Anyone with ideas for the sculpture should contact us via www.sath.nhs.uk/nhs70 before February 16. Every suggestion will be discussed by a panel from SaTH and the British Ironwork Centre before a final design is created and unveiled at SaTH’s Charity Fun Day.
Richard Jones, senior communications specialist at SaTH, was the man who originally floated the idea of working with the British Ironwork Centre, which is based at Oswestry to create a sculpture to mark the landmark.
He said: “I have known the team at the British Ironwork Centre for many years, and having been involved in a number of exciting projects with them in the past, I knew they would be the perfect partners to create something that reflects how passionate we all are about the NHS.”
Clive Knowles, owner and chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, said: “We are delighted to be working with SaTH to create a stunning sculpture.
“We want to create something that stands the test of time and not only reflects our love for the NHS but also the kind, caring and hard-working people who work in the organisation throughout Shropshire.
“A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and became seriously ill, and although I have now put that behind me it has given me great empathy with the NHS and with hospitals generally. I was in hospital for three months – first at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and then at The Christie in Manchester – and I will always be grateful for the care I got from our National Health Service.”
The sculpture will be created by Luke Kite, a talented artist from Shropshire.
Julia Clarke, director of corporate governance, met with Mr Knowles this week to discuss the project, and said she was extremely grateful for their support in agreeing to make the statue free of charge.
“We have big plans when it comes to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the NHS so to have a sculpture created, with input from the people we serve, is really very special.
“It is also great that the sculpture will make use of obsolete hospital equipment which otherwise would be sent to scrap.
“We want people to get in touch by submitting their ideas via www.sath.nhs.uk/nhs70 and tell us ‘what one image you think best celebrates the NHS?’"
