The last babies born at Thorpe Maternity Hospital, plus memories of Milly the nurse and Big Gordon the chef

Thorpe Hospital Maternity Unit officially closed its doors in 1986.

The last of the expectant mothers and nursing staff were discharged or transferred to Sunderland and Hartlepool units.

Transferred to neighbouring towns

The last baby born at the East Durham hospital arrived on August 31 and mothers booked into Thorpe after that were transferred.

More than £200,000 was spent on the Sunderland hospital in anticipation of the closure of Thorpe to provide many new facilities and hi-tech equipment.

Twenty two new obstetric beds were provided to cope with increased intake of mothers and the nursing staff more than doubled.

Feelings ran high when it closed

Mums from Easington, Blackhall and Peterlee were among the last group of women to have their babies at Thorpe. It officially closed on September 15, 1986, before it re-opened as a Hartlepool Health Authority geriatric unit a day later.

But feelings ran high against the closure of Thorpe because of increased travelling distances.

The trolley with a hood on it

Mums-to-be remembered it as a place where the level of care was fantastic.

Some recalled, in a previous story in the Sunderland Echo in 2017, that they went to the delivery room on a trolley which had a hood on it.

Others remembered that the delivery room was so small it was called the Wendy House.

Milly the nurse and Big Gordon the chef

Others remembered the top-class nurses including one called Milly who made sure she picked up every baby to give them a kiss.

Some people remembered Big Gordon the chef who always served up wonderful meals.

But we want your memories of Thorpe and its staff. Tell us more by emailing [email protected]