A Turners Film Production of the opening of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle on the 31st May 1978 by Charles, Prince of Wales. The film features Prince Charles as well as other dignitaries giving speeches intercut with views around the hospital including the new cardiothoracic centre and haemodialysis ward. After the unveiling of a plaque the Prince takes a tour of the hospital where he speaks to both patients and staff of the new hospital. The film opens with a shot of a photographic...

A Turners Film Production of the opening of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle on the 31st May 1978 by Charles, Prince of Wales. The film features Prince Charles as well as other dignitaries giving speeches intercut with views around the hospital including the new cardiothoracic centre and haemodialysis ward. After the unveiling of a plaque the Prince takes a tour of the hospital where he speaks to both patients and staff of the new hospital. The film opens with a shot of a photographic portrait of the Prince of Wales hanging on a wall. At Newcastle Central Station the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear, other dignitaries and a large crowd watch as a diesel passenger train pulls into the platform. Charles, Prince of Wales, steps off the train and shakes hand with the Lord Lieutenant before being introduced to a number of dignitaries. Exterior views follow of the new Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the first new hospital to be built in the city for more than 70 years. Title: The Official Opening of Freeman Hospital by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales 31 May 1978 Outside the main entrance of the hospital a line of nurses await the Prince's arrival. His car arrives at the hospital to cheers and applause from the waiting crowd. A military band begins to play the British National Anthem. A shot follows of the hospital visitor’s book with the Prince's signature, followed by his signed portrait seen previously. Inside the hospital the Prince waits while Colonel Sir William Leigh, Chairman of the Regional Health Authority, gives the opening address to a room of seated guests. His speech is intercut with that of the new hospital brochure and surgeons carrying out a heart operation in the new cardiothoracic centre. In another part of the hospital, two female nurses take an x-ray of a patient. Other female technicians work on a different piece of equipment. William Leigh finishes his address and Prince Charles gets to his feet and gives a speech. Finishing to applause, he turns and opens the curtains revealing a plaque underneath. With the unveiling over the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle gives a short service of dedication. This is intercut with a doctor treating a female kidney dialysis patient in the haemodialysis department followed by views of the new hospital chapel. Following the service, a speech is made by Mr Straker, Chairman of the Newcastle Area Authority, into whose care the hospital is given. Again, as he speaks the film intercuts views of the exterior of the new hospital and a sign on a wall that reads ‘Regional Cardiothoracic Centre'. A shot of a fish tank in the new but empty canteen changes to show hospital staff relaxing around tables in a different part of the hospital. As Mr Straker talks in voiceover about the development of the hospital the film shows the building's foundation stone laid by Sir Keith Joseph, Secretary of State for Social Services in June 1972, and a photograph of the hospital's topping out ceremony featuring student nurse Pybus in December 1972. Finally, from the roof of the hospital, a view across the hospital site and a Union Jack flying on a flagpole. Patients arrive in the foyer of the new hospital. Some make their way to the reception area. Two student nurses practice on each other, one sitting up on a bed while the other takes her blood pressure supervised by a tutor. They then practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mouth-to-mouth on a dummy laying in a hospital bed. In a laboratory a female technician checks over a conveyer of blood samples being tested for their gamma count. Back at the cardiothoracic centre, the heart operation continues including a close up of the heart still pumping. In another part of the hospital patients rest in bed while doctors and nurses work on them on a haemodialysis ward. Outside, a large crowd is gathered to see Prince Charles. Two young girls wear Union Jack hats and wave paper Union Jack flags. Back inside the hospital the Prince visits a ward and speaks with nursing staff and female patients in the dayroom. A large entourage accompanies him including the Lord Lieutenant. On the ward itself he speaks with a number of other women. On the children’s wards he speaks with one young girl laid out on her back. Making his way out of the hospital the Prince speaks with a woman holding a small child in the reception area. Outside crowds again cheer and clap as he and the Lord Lieutenant get into their car and are driven away. End credit: Film & Video Camera. Turners Film Production, BBC North-East, Tyne Tees Television, Durham Central Recording Unit 2 End credit: Video Editing Turners Video Productions Newcastle upon Tyne End credit: Acknowledgement. The Area Works Dept Electronics Section Freeman Hospital. Tyne Video Ltd.