MINISTER of Health, Iain Macleod, lays the foundation stone for Burnley General Hospital's new twin operating theatres, in January, 1955.
And during his visit he recognised the need for improvement in facilities at hospitals in the area.
The Northern Daily Telegraph carried a photograph of the ceremony in its January 29 edition, more than half a century ago and gave details of Mr Macleod's address to hospital managers.
They told how the Minister revealed the possibility of making some advances to improve services earlier than hospital administrators thought.
Talking about the voluntary work in the hospital service, Mr Macleod, who was MP for nearby Skipton, said if the structure could be built in the voluntary traditions and voluntary committees linked to hospital work, as had been done in the Burnley area, he would have no fear for the future of the service or the National Health Service.
After the stone laying ceremony, Mr Macleod toured the wards, to which his address was relayed and viewed the facilities.
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