A rural hospital in Northumberland recently celebrated a decade since its current £4.6 million facility was rebuilt.

Staff and visitors at the Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital joined the hospital’s League of Friends to celebrate the occasion.

Festivities included a specially decorated cake and a display of photographs over the past 10 years.

For more than 100 years, healthcare services have been provided to the town.

However, the hospital was rebuilt a decade ago, pioneering an integrated health and social care services scheme alongside Northumberland County Council.

(Image: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)

The million pound initiative was among the first of its kind in the UK to provide hospital and social care support in one building.

Ross Wigham, director of communications at Northumbria Healthcare, said: "A huge thank you to everyone who took part, especially the League of Friends who have provided so much support to the hospital over the years.

"This is an amazing facility for rural Northumberland and it’s clear to see how much the local community values the care, compassion and expertise right on their doorstep.

"Talking to staff and patients really brought home how important these local services are for rural communities and it was amazing to see our talented staff at work."

Among the guests at the celebration was Jackie Banks, who was born at the hospital in 1965.

She started a career as a domestic and was then given the opportunity to train and develop her career to become a ward manager.

The 17-bed hospital in the centre of town provides high-quality care services, including specialist support, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy for patients who need extra help to prepare them for going home.

The property also offers palliative care for those approaching the end of life and a minor injuries service open from 9am to 5pm every day.

The state-of-the-art facility, complete with single, en-suite rooms and an area adapted for bariatric patients, also relieves pressure from larger hospitals at Hexham and Cramlington by taking their patients.

By offering immediate treatment in the minor injuries unit, the hospital reduces the demand on A&E departments.