Features

North West Tonight reporter Laura Yates examined how maternity units have changed in the years since the NHS was founded. She spoke to new and old mothers who shared their experiences of giving birth at hospital as well as at home.

She also showed us around an ultra-modern birth centre in Stockport.

As well as being there for people in the first hours of their lives, the NHS also has a duty of care to patients towards the end of their lives. Ed Thomas reports on how elderly patients very specialised requirements are looked after by Nye Bevan's idea.

Health minister Ivan Lewis MP

Looking ahead to the future of the health service, Kate Simms visits a 'super surgery' in Cheshire which provides all aspects of care on one site. Patients can visit the doctor, the dentist, the physiotherapist and pharmacist - and if that's all too much, you can have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat in the cafe.

Health minister Ivan Lewis MP also takes time out of his busy schedule to answer queries about the state of the NHS put to him by North West Tonight viewers.

The first hospital to come under the NHS umbrella was Park hospital in Trafford. Dave Guest takes a trip to the building - now called Trafford General - to see what has changed since that first day in 1948.

Gordon, his wife and daughter Anna. Aww!

And the first person born in the hospital in its new status was Sandra. She told reporter Abbie Jones about her subsequent experiences with the NHS.

North West Tonight also spent 24 hours in various places around one of the region's busiest hospitals, the Blackpool Victoria. Alison Wood reports on the trials and tribulations faced by the 3,000 members of staff.

Lastly, Gordon tells us why Trafford General hospital, the place where the whole NHS story began, has a special place in his heart.