ON THE anniversary of the national health service, royalty came to Gwent to take part in a hospital's celebrations.

The Prince of Wales visited Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan in Ebbw Vale today to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS at the hospital named after the health service's founder.

Children from Beaufort Hill Primary School entertained the prince with a rendition of 'Calon Lan' when he arrived, as well-wishers cheered and waved flags.

Accompanied by the first minister, Carwyn Jones, and the Welsh government's cabinet secretary for health, Vaughan Gething, the prince met hospital staff, patients and representatives from a number of organisations that work with the NHS.

Sue Walters, superintendent radiographer at the hospital, said the prince was very intrigued by the department's work.

She said: "He stopped and was very interested in the hip replacement we have on display because his dad has had one.

"It was lovely, we felt very proud. We've worked very hard for this today, it’s a proud day."

The prince also met Ben Scott, a physiotherapist who works with paramedics to help people who have fallen at home but do not require hospital treatment.

The prince was "a very nice gentleman", Mr Scott said.

"We had a nice discussion about the inflatable cushion which helps people get up off the floor.

"He was quite interested in it. He was jokingly saying he might need one of those in the future."

The prince unveiled a commemorative plaque honouring the hospital's staff and the NHS for its 70 years of service.

Mr Gethin, the cabinet secretary, said he was "tremendously proud" of the health service.

"It’s a fabulous time to be here at Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan celebrating the 70th birthday of our health service", Mr Gethin said.

"I've talked to staff here today about changes they’ve made within this hospital that have reduced the length of stay by ten days.

"That's a part of the constant story of our health service, but within that there are always people – the patients, and obviously the staff delivering that care.

"This is a wonderful example of what our service has been, what it is, and a mark of the fact that it will be different again in the future.

"I'm absolutely convinced that the NHS has a very bright future in Wales and across the rest of the UK as well, because people place huge value in what our health service has done and what it does every day in every single community."

Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, said the anniversary celebrations were "a real moment for us to be proud of what we've seen develop over the last 70 years or so".

"It’s a real pleasure to come her to represent Wales, and I just really want to say thank you to all our staff across Wales for what they do," he said.

When asked about the health service's future, Dr Goodall seemed optimistic but admitted there were challenges ahead.

"I think the NHS inevitably needs to change and adapt", he said.

"A lot of things are changing, the ways our doctors and nurses prepare for treatments and care.

"Just think how things developed in the last 70 years – people used to be in hospital for weeks, now they can have procedures as outpatients.

"But it does need to change because we've got a growing older population, we have to make sure we push more services to support people in their homes and close to their communities.

"I think the nhs will be able to live up to that."