General Hospital (UK TV series) productions to fill in the extended schedules. Among the first of these shows, which were aimed at giving advertisers access to housewives, were the long-running rural soap "Emmerdale Farm" (YTV) and the twice-weekly medical drama "General Hospital". Set in a fictional Midlands town, the series followed the romantic and professional lives of its doctors and nurses. While the location and the characters names had been changed, in most other respects "General Hospital" was almost identical to its predecessor, "Emergency – Ward 10", a deliberate attempt to recreate its success. In 1975, after 270 twice-weekly episodes, "General Hospital" was given a
General Hospital soap opera to make such a transition. The serial aired its 14,000th episode on February 23, 2018. "General Hospital" became the oldest American soap opera on September 17, 2010, following the final broadcast of CBS' "As the World Turns". On April 14, 2011, ABC announced the cancellation of both "All My Children" and "One Life to Live", leaving "General Hospital" as the last remaining soap opera airing on the network after January 13, 2012. The show celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 1, 2013. "General Hospital" was created by Frank and Doris Hursley and premiered on April 1, 1963. The