Historic hospital workers honoured

The names of people who worked at a hospital that was bulldozed to make way for houses will be remembered in new street names.

The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital closed its doors for the last time in January 2003 and its patients transferred to a new modern premises on the outskirts of Norwich.

Since then the old hospital buildings have been razed to make way for about 500 new houses and flats.

But the history of the health profession at the site is set to live on through the names of the new streets.

Family's pride

Six of them will feature some of the most prominent people who helped form and run the hospital during the 1700s and 1800s.

The six new street names will be:

Sarah West Close - after the hospital's first matron

Thomas Wyatt Close - an architect of the 1883 building

Edward Jodrell Plain - a major benefactor

Benjamin Gooch Way - consultant surgeon

Phillipa Flowerday Plain - first known industrial nurse

Kenneth McKee Plain - surgeon famed for hip replacements

Michael McKee, son of the late surgeon, said his family were pleased their father's name had been chosen.

"The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was where my father did all of his pioneering work on artificial hip joints.

"My sisters and I think it is a fitting tribute to his great work that his name should continue to be remembered in this way."

The names were chosen after research carried out by the Norwich Society.

Sheila Kefford, from the society, said: "It is important these prime names of association with the former hospital are remembered."