St George's Hospital
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1733, St George’s Hospital is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. It shares its main hospital site in Tooting
, England
with the St George's, University of London
which trains NHS
staff and carries out advanced medical research.
The hospital has around 1,000 beds and most general tertiary care such as accident and emergency, maternity services and care for older people
and children. However, as a major acute hospital
, St George's Hospital also offers specialist care for the more complex injuries and illnesses, including trauma
, neurology
, cardiac care
, renal transplantation, cancer care
and stroke
. It is also home to one of four major trauma centres and one of eight hyper-acute stroke units for London.
St George's Hospital also provides care for patients from a larger catchment area in the South East of England
, for specialties such as complex pelvic trauma
. Other services treat patients from all over the country, such as family HIV
care and bone marrow transplantation for non-cancer diseases. The trust also provides a nationwide state-of-the-art endoscopy
training centre.
, William Wogan
, Robert Witham and Patrick Cockburn decided to open the Westminster Public Infirmary in Petty France, London
in 1720, and quickly relocated to larger premises in Chapel Street in 1724. By 1732 the Governors were forced to seek an even larger building. The majority of the Governors favoured a house in Castle Lane but a minority preferred Lanesborough House.
The original site was in Lanesborough House at Hyde Park Corner
, originally built in 1719 by the James Lane, 2nd Viscount Lanesborough, in what was then open countryside. The new St George's Hospital was arranged on three floors and accommodated 30 patients in two wards: one for men and one for women. The hospital was gradually extended and, by 1744, it had fifteen wards and over 250 patients.
By the 1800s, the hospital was slipping into disrepair. The old Lanesborough House at Hyde Park Corner
(now the location of The Lanesborough
hotel) was demolished to make way for a new 350 bed new facility. Building began in 1827 designed by architect William Wilkins
and the new hospital was completed by 1844.
By 1859, a critical shortage of beds led to the addition of an attic floor. This was soon insufficient and led to the creation of a new convalescent hospital, Atkinson Morley's in Wimbledon
, freeing up beds at St George's for acute patients.
A medical school was established in 1834 at Kinnerton Street and was incorporated into the hospital in 1868. The Medical School, now St George's, University of London
, was built in the south-west corner of the hospital site in Hyde Park, with the main entrance in Knightsbridge and the back entrance in Grosvenor Crescent Mews.
In 1948, the National Health Service
was introduced and plans for a new site for St George's at The Grove Fever and Fountain Hospitals at Tooting
were eventually agreed upon. In 1954, the Grove Hospital became part of St George's, and clinical teaching started in Tooting
.
closed its doors for the last time. (That building still stands and is now The Lanesborough
Hotel on the west side of Hyde Park Corner.)
In 1981, medical education in London was reorganized to recognize the movement of population away from the centre. There are now fewer, larger medical schools in London. The expansion of St George's, University of London (formerly St George's Hospital Medical School) has become part of this policy.
In 2003, neurosciences services located at Atkinson Morley Hospital
in Wimbledon moved to the brand new Atkinson Morley Wing on the main St George's site. This addition to the hospital now also houses cardiac and cardiothoracic services which have moved from the old fever hospital wards. St George's today provides a total of over 1000 beds making it the largest hospital in London and one of the biggest in the country.
In April 2010 St George’s Healthcare became part of the South West London
and Surrey
Trauma Network (SWLSTN). All A&E departments within the network continue to provide trauma services with St George’s designated as the major trauma centre.
On Friday 1 October St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust integrated with Community Services
Wandsworth
, after approval from NHS London
. The change aims to significantly improve care given to local people, by providing more care in their own homes, reducing unnecessary admissions to hospital and helping patients leave hospital as soon as it is safe for them to do so.
of Yatton
, spent twenty weeks at St. George's Hospital, and was pronounced incurable by the medical community there.
Recently St George's Hospital has come under considerable scrutiny after a massive £21 million deficit, placing it squarely in the sights of the UK Government's overspending "hit squad". However, being a massive provider of healthcare in the area, some consider it to be as its name represents, the martyr hospital.
Homicide detectives are considering bringing a corporate manslaughter charge against the hospital after a patient, 22-year-old Kane Gorny, died of dehydration.
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with the St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
which trains NHS
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...
staff and carries out advanced medical research.
The hospital has around 1,000 beds and most general tertiary care such as accident and emergency, maternity services and care for older people
Geriatrics
Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or...
and children. However, as a major acute hospital
Acute (medicine)
In medicine, an acute disease is a disease with either or both of:# a rapid onset, as in acute infection# a short course ....
, St George's Hospital also offers specialist care for the more complex injuries and illnesses, including trauma
Trauma (medicine)
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
, neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, cardiac care
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
, renal transplantation, cancer care
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
and stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. It is also home to one of four major trauma centres and one of eight hyper-acute stroke units for London.
St George's Hospital also provides care for patients from a larger catchment area in the South East of England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
, for specialties such as complex pelvic trauma
Pelvis
In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...
. Other services treat patients from all over the country, such as family HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
care and bone marrow transplantation for non-cancer diseases. The trust also provides a nationwide state-of-the-art endoscopy
Endoscopy
Endoscopy means looking inside and typically refers to looking inside the body for medical reasons using an endoscope , an instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. Unlike most other medical imaging devices, endoscopes are inserted directly into the organ...
training centre.
History
In 1716 Henry HoareHenry Hoare (banker)
Henry Hoare I , known as Henry the Good, was an English banker and landowner.-Career:Born the son of Sir Richard Hoare, founder of C. Hoare & Co bankers, Henry the Good became a Partner in the bank in August 1702. Together with his father, he became a commissioner for the building of 50 new...
, William Wogan
William Wogan (religious writer)
William Wogan was a religious writer, the son of Ethelred Wogan, the Rector of Gumfreston and Vicar of Penally, Pembroke....
, Robert Witham and Patrick Cockburn decided to open the Westminster Public Infirmary in Petty France, London
Petty France, London
Petty France refers to several places in London and Westminster.It usually refers to a street in the City of Westminster, London, "a considerable street between Tathill Street, E., and James Street, W " The street was the original location in 1720 of the Westminster Public Infirmary...
in 1720, and quickly relocated to larger premises in Chapel Street in 1724. By 1732 the Governors were forced to seek an even larger building. The majority of the Governors favoured a house in Castle Lane but a minority preferred Lanesborough House.
The original site was in Lanesborough House at Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
, originally built in 1719 by the James Lane, 2nd Viscount Lanesborough, in what was then open countryside. The new St George's Hospital was arranged on three floors and accommodated 30 patients in two wards: one for men and one for women. The hospital was gradually extended and, by 1744, it had fifteen wards and over 250 patients.
By the 1800s, the hospital was slipping into disrepair. The old Lanesborough House at Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
(now the location of The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough is a 5-star hotel on Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, central London, England. Operated by the American Starwood Hotels corporation, it is reputedly the most expensive hotel in London, the highest rate being up to £14,000 per night for the "The Lanesborough Suite". A 24-hour...
hotel) was demolished to make way for a new 350 bed new facility. Building began in 1827 designed by architect William Wilkins
William Wilkins (architect)
William Wilkins RA was an English architect, classical scholar and archaeologist. He designed the National Gallery and University College in London, and buildings for several Cambridge colleges.-Life:...
and the new hospital was completed by 1844.
By 1859, a critical shortage of beds led to the addition of an attic floor. This was soon insufficient and led to the creation of a new convalescent hospital, Atkinson Morley's in Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, freeing up beds at St George's for acute patients.
A medical school was established in 1834 at Kinnerton Street and was incorporated into the hospital in 1868. The Medical School, now St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, was built in the south-west corner of the hospital site in Hyde Park, with the main entrance in Knightsbridge and the back entrance in Grosvenor Crescent Mews.
In 1948, 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...
was introduced and plans for a new site for St George's at The Grove Fever and Fountain Hospitals at Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
were eventually agreed upon. In 1954, the Grove Hospital became part of St George's, and clinical teaching started in Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
.
Relocation to Tooting
In 1973, building began on the new site. The new hospital and school buildings were now well advanced. The School was completed, as were two wings of the new hospital, which provided a total of 710 beds. In 1976, the Medical School opened at Tooting and, in 1980, St George's Hospital at Hyde Park CornerHyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
closed its doors for the last time. (That building still stands and is now The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough is a 5-star hotel on Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, central London, England. Operated by the American Starwood Hotels corporation, it is reputedly the most expensive hotel in London, the highest rate being up to £14,000 per night for the "The Lanesborough Suite". A 24-hour...
Hotel on the west side of Hyde Park Corner.)
In 1981, medical education in London was reorganized to recognize the movement of population away from the centre. There are now fewer, larger medical schools in London. The expansion of St George's, University of London (formerly St George's Hospital Medical School) has become part of this policy.
In 2003, neurosciences services located at Atkinson Morley Hospital
Atkinson Morley Hospital
Atkinson Morley Hospital was located at Copse Hill, Wimbledon, London , SW20, England from 1869 until 2003. The hospital was noted as one of the most advanced brain surgery centres in the world, and in particular for the first use of computed tomography on a human being in 1972 by Godfrey...
in Wimbledon moved to the brand new Atkinson Morley Wing on the main St George's site. This addition to the hospital now also houses cardiac and cardiothoracic services which have moved from the old fever hospital wards. St George's today provides a total of over 1000 beds making it the largest hospital in London and one of the biggest in the country.
In April 2010 St George’s Healthcare became part of the South West London
South West London
South West London could refer to:*SW postcode area*South West *Western part of South London*South West...
and Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
Trauma Network (SWLSTN). All A&E departments within the network continue to provide trauma services with St George’s designated as the major trauma centre.
On Friday 1 October St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust integrated with Community Services
Care in the Community
Care in the Community is the British policy of deinstitutionalization, treating and caring for physically and mentally disabled people in their homes rather than in an institution...
Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, after approval from NHS London
NHS London
NHS London is a strategic health authority of the National Health Service in England. It operates in the London region, which is coterminous with the local government office region....
. The change aims to significantly improve care given to local people, by providing more care in their own homes, reducing unnecessary admissions to hospital and helping patients leave hospital as soon as it is safe for them to do so.
Controversies
Around 1788, the famous George LukinsGeorge Lukins
George Lukins, also known as the Yatton dœmoniac, was an individual famous for his alleged demonic possession and the subsequent exorcism that occurred when he was aged forty-four; his case occasioned great controversy in England.-Biography:...
of Yatton
Yatton
Yatton is a village and civil parish within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located south-west of Bristol. Its population in 2001 was 9,176...
, spent twenty weeks at St. George's Hospital, and was pronounced incurable by the medical community there.
Recently St George's Hospital has come under considerable scrutiny after a massive £21 million deficit, placing it squarely in the sights of the UK Government's overspending "hit squad". However, being a massive provider of healthcare in the area, some consider it to be as its name represents, the martyr hospital.
Homicide detectives are considering bringing a corporate manslaughter charge against the hospital after a patient, 22-year-old Kane Gorny, died of dehydration.
Famous students and staff
Among those who have been associated with St George's are:- Sir William H. Bennett established a department of massage for the treatment of fractures
- Clinton Thomas DentClinton Thomas DentClinton Thomas Dent FRCS was an English surgeon, author and mountaineer.-Early life:The fourth surviving son of Thomas Dent, he was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.-Alpinism:...
, surgeon and mountaineer - Marmaduke SheildMarmaduke SheildArthur Marmaduke Sheild was a surgeon, whose career was curtailed by a self inflicted accident while operating, and a benefactor of Cambridge University, which named its chair in pharmacology in his honour.-Education:...
, surgeon who gave his name to the Sheild Professorship of PharmacologySheild Professor of PharmacologyThe Sheild Professorship of Pharmacology was originally established by grace of 7 June 1946 as a personal chair for the tenure of Ernest Basil Verney...
at Cambridge University - Henry GrayHenry GrayHenry Gray was an English anatomist and surgeon most notable for publishing the book Gray's Anatomy. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society at the age of 25.-Biography:...
, anatomist - Harry HillHarry HillHarry Hill , is a Perrier Award–winning English comedian, author and television presenter. A former medical doctor , Hill began his career in comedy with the popular radio show Harry Hill's Fruit Corner.-Personal life:Hill was born in Woking,...
, subsequently stand-up comedian and TV funny man - John HunterJohn Hunter (surgeon)John Hunter FRS was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientific method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour...
, father of modern surgery - Edward JennerEdward JennerEdward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
, introduced vaccination for smallpoxSmallpoxSmallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"... - Juda Hirsch QuastelJuda Hirsch QuastelJuda Hirsch Quastel, CC, FRS, FRSE was a British-Canadian biochemist who pioneered diverse research in neurochemistry, soil metabolism, cellular metabolism, and cancer....
, biochemist, with discoveries in neuroscience, soil chemistry and cancer - Thomas Spencer WellsThomas Spencer WellsSir Thomas Spencer Wells, 1st Baronet was surgeon to Queen Victoria, a medical professor and president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.-Early life:...
, pioneer in abdominal surgery - Thomas YoungThomas Young (scientist)Thomas Young was an English polymath. He is famous for having partly deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics before Jean-François Champollion eventually expanded on his work...
, physician, mathematician and hieroglyphicologist - Peter H MillardPeter H MillardPeter Millard FRCP is Emeritus Professor of Geriatrics, St George's, University of London and President of the UK Nosokinetics Group.Visiting Professor, University of Westminster. Editor of Nosokinetics News. President of the UK Nosokinetics Group...
Emeritus Professor of Geriatrics and inventor of NosokineticsNosokineticsNosokinetics is the science/subject of measuring and modelling the process of care in health and social care systems. Nosokinetics brings together the Greek words for noso: disease and kinetics: movement.... - Edward Adrian WilsonEdward Adrian WilsonEdward Adrian Wilson was a notable English polar explorer, physician, naturalist, painter and ornithologist.-Early life:...
, polar explorer and member of Robert Falcon ScottRobert Falcon ScottCaptain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
's ill-fated Terra Nova ExpeditionTerra Nova ExpeditionThe Terra Nova Expedition , officially the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, was led by Robert Falcon Scott with the objective of being the first to reach the geographical South Pole. Scott and four companions attained the pole on 17 January 1912, to find that a Norwegian team led by Roald...
to the South PoleSouth PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole... - Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, 1st Baronet,English physiologist and surgeon who pioneered research into bone and joint disease
- Geoffrey Davies 1924-2008, Cardiology Technician who invented the British version of the cardiac pacemaker (11)