Bristol Royal Infirmary
Encyclopedia
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital
situated in the centre of Bristol
, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol
, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England
, also in Bristol.
The BRI is one of eight hospitals operated by the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol), Bristol's largest NHS trust
.
A wealthy city merchant, Paul Fisher, was prominent in the foundation of hospital in 1735. In 1904, Sir George White
, who gave Bristol its first electric tram
way service and established what was to become the Bristol Aeroplane Company
, saved the hospital from a major financial crisis, and later masterminded the construction of the BRI Edward VII Memorial Wing, designed by Charles Holden
.
Acquired by the National Health Service
in 1948, the hospital's facilities were greatly extended in the 1960s. The Queen's Building extension opened in 1972. The Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, located behind the main hospital building, opened in 1971.
The Bristol heart scandal
, which resulted in the deaths of a number of babies and young children during heart surgery during the period 1984–1995 led to the Kennedy Report into paediatric cardiac surgical services
at the hospital. The report led to greater emphasis on clinical governance within the NHS and the publication of the performance ratings of individual heart surgeons.
A linked and co-located hospital is the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which is designed to be appealing and more suitable for children.
Notable former medical staff include Geoffrey Tovey
, serologist and founder of the UK Transplant Service.
Teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital that provides clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients...
situated in the centre of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
, also in Bristol.
The BRI is one of eight hospitals operated by the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol), Bristol's largest NHS trust
NHS Trust
A National Health Service trust provides services on behalf of the National Health Service in England and NHS Wales.The trusts are not trusts in the legal sense but are in effect public sector corporations. Each trust is headed by a board consisting of executive and non-executive directors, and is...
.
A wealthy city merchant, Paul Fisher, was prominent in the foundation of hospital in 1735. In 1904, Sir George White
George White (businessman)
Sir George White, 1st Baronet was an English businessman and stockbroker based in Bristol. He was instrumental in the construction of the Bristol tramways and became a pioneer in the construction of electric tramways in England. In 1910 he formed, with his brother Samuel, the Bristol Aeroplane...
, who gave Bristol its first electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way service and established what was to become the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
, saved the hospital from a major financial crisis, and later masterminded the construction of the BRI Edward VII Memorial Wing, designed by Charles Holden
Charles Holden
Charles Henry Holden, Litt. D., FRIBA, MRTPI, RDI was a Bolton-born English architect best known for designing many London Underground stations during the 1920s and 1930s, for Bristol Central Library, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London's headquarters at 55 Broadway and for the...
.
Acquired by the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
in 1948, the hospital's facilities were greatly extended in the 1960s. The Queen's Building extension opened in 1972. The Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, located behind the main hospital building, opened in 1971.
The Bristol heart scandal
Bristol heart scandal
The Bristol heart scandal occurred in England during the 1990s. At the Bristol Royal Infirmary, babies died at high rates after cardiac surgery. An inquiry found "staff shortages, a lack of leadership, [a] ... unit ... 'simply not up to the task' ... 'an old boy's culture' among doctors, a lax...
, which resulted in the deaths of a number of babies and young children during heart surgery during the period 1984–1995 led to the Kennedy Report into paediatric cardiac surgical services
Cardiac surgery
Cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease , correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease from various causes including endocarditis, rheumatic heart...
at the hospital. The report led to greater emphasis on clinical governance within the NHS and the publication of the performance ratings of individual heart surgeons.
A linked and co-located hospital is the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which is designed to be appealing and more suitable for children.
Notable former medical staff include Geoffrey Tovey
Geoffrey Tovey
Geoffrey Harold Tovey CBE CBE, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, was a doctor whose scientific contributions in the field of haematology brought him an international reputation. He was also an expert in serology and founder and Director of the UK Transplant Service.-Childhood and early life:Geoffrey Harold Tovey...
, serologist and founder of the UK Transplant Service.