Penley Community Hospital

Penley Community Hospital (Welsh: Ysbyty Cymuned Llannerch Banna) is a former community hospital dedicated to Polish ex-servicemen in Penley, Wales. It was managed by North East Wales NHS Trust and closed in 2002.

Penley Community Hospital
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Penley Community Hospital
Penley Community Hospital is located in Wrexham
Penley Community Hospital
Shown in Wrexham County Borough
Geography
LocationPenley, Wales, United Kingdom
Coordinates52°57′14″N 2°52′13″W / 52.9540°N 2.8703°W / 52.9540; -2.8703
Organisation
Care systemPublic NHS
TypeCommunity hospital
Services
Emergency departmentNo Accident & Emergency
History
Opened1946
Closed2002
Links
Websitewww.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/42950
ListsHospitals in Wales

History

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The site was a United States Army hospital during the Second World War.[1] The hospital was founded in 1946, as part of an initiative to care for Polish ex-servicemen who fought alongside the Allies in the Second World War, as well as their families, who settled in the area.[2] As a result of this influx, the population of Penley increased threefold. Residents at the hospital and camp included the Polish military commander, Wacław Przeździecki. At its peak, in the early 1950s, the hospital housed more than 2,000 patients and staff. By 2002 just 6 patients remained and the hospital closed.[3]

The original hospital building (which had space for 30 wards but was now only using one) was subsequently demolished and a small, modern facility was opened in 2004, with 8 individual rooms for the surviving Polish residents.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Penley Hospital". Wrexham History. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Penley Poles". BBC. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Penley Hospital: Wrexham village once a 'Polish wonderland'". BBC. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Polish hospital renews Churchill's vision". Wales Online. 27 January 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2019.