The arms were officially granted on 12th March 1962
St Barbara patron saint of the injured and dying, on either side of the central crest
St Edward’s Crown sat near the top of the crest – Edward the Confessor – “was an enigmatic figure who was believed to have the power to heal. He began the royal custom of touching ill people to cure them. The tradition continued for nearly 700 years until the reign of Queen Anne.” (https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/edward.shtml)
The crown symbolised the Royal patronage of their original Queen’s Hospital
There is an arm protruding from the vested argent, which is holding the rod of Asclepius, with a single snake wrapped around it – which is a symbol of the medical field
James Archdale – expression of giving material expression of his gratitude as a patient chosen to fund forming a Coat of Arms for the Institute of Accident Surgeons.
The design of St Barbara’s tower is in some doubt but that of the turrets was adopted for the ties of the hospital, Gissane’s old Team and the Social Club
Suggested by Mr B S Mather (House Surgeon Team 2) of the tower of St Barbara as the emblem on the hospitals tie
The tower also appeared on the badge of the Occupational Health Nurses Course and the Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies Course in Accident & Emergency Nursing
