The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

Description

About Us
Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust was formed last year to bring together local NHS hospital and community services under one organisation This means experienced healthcare professionals are working closely together to improve the patient journey

History

1817
Lewisham Hospital starts its life as a workhouse

1872
Sydenham Childrens Hospital a hospital and home for sick children is opened by Miss Edith Elwes

1897
Park Fever Hospital later called Hither Green Hospital opens for the treatment of infectious diseases such as scarlet fever or diphtheria

1926
Her Majesty Queen Mary visits Sydenham Childrens Hospital to open the hospitals nurses home

1932
C Block is built providing 163 Maternity and Childrens beds

1935
On 14 June Her Royal Highness Princess Marina Duchess of Kent visits the hospital to open a pound24000 new wing

1945
Opening of Dunoran Home a pioneering home for the chronically ill

1948
The NHS is formed 5 July 1948

1950
The Park Hospital changes it name to Hither Green Hospital

1952
Grove Park Hospital opens it new pound6000 patients recreation hall

1954
Lewisham Hospital opens a premature baby unit for 12 babies

1956
Foundation stone for the new Outpatients Block is laid by Mr R Owen Chairman of the Management Committee

1957
A staff paging system is introduced at Lewishamonly the second hospital in the UK to have the system The League of Friends Committees formed at Grove Park St Johns and Hither Green Hospitals

1958
The new Outpatients Department is opened at Lewisham Hospital in May by HRH Princess Margeret This is built on the bombsite of one of the ward blocks destroyed by a flying bomb in World War ll

1964
The second part of a new building programme is completed at Lewisham providing an extension of the Accident Department and waiting halls more consulting rooms and a large new Xray Department

1966
The new pharmacy and operating theatres open as the second phase of the Outpatients building at Lewisham Hospital

1968
The new Special Care Baby Unit the new Antenatal Clinic and an Intensive Therapy Unit the first in a District General Hospital in the country are opened at Lewisham Hospital by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health Mr Julian Snow The three units cost a total of pound126000

1970
A regional centre for the Blood Transfusion Service is established at Lewisham Hospital
June the Lewisham Hospital Voluntary Services is set up

1971
The new Nurses Education Centre opens at Lewisham Hospital at a cost of pound150000

1973
Sir Keith Joseph Secretary of State for Health and Social services visits the hospital in February and in October he opens Birdwood the younger disabled Unit at Hither Green

1979
St Johns Hospital closes

1982
The Lewisham Macmillian Team treats its first cancer patient

1987
The pound10 million Phase 1 redevelopment of Lewisham Hospital is completed and features four theatres one surgical ward a kitchen dining room new rehabilitation facilities a boiler house and refurnished facilities for Accident and Emergency and Outpatients

1991
Sydenham Childrens Hospital closes its doors and moves to Lewisham Hospital where it is known as the Childrens Hospital

1992
Scanner Appeal set up in 1989 donates CT scanner in October 1992 and continues as Lewi Appeal to raise money for further equipment and amenities at the hospital

1993
The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust established and Dunoran Home becomes part of the trustThe pound35 million Phase 2 redevelopment of Lewisham Hospital which includes a new Womens and Childrens Wing begins

1994
Grove Park Hospital closes Sapphire Warda 20 bedded surgical ward is opened
Day Surgical Unit opens on 13 May

1995
The Accident and Emergency Department at Lewisham Hospital is upgraded and extended in June following a pound1 million investment

1996
Princess Alexandra opens the new Womens and Childrens Wing at the hospital on 12 November

1997
Hither Green Hospital closes Care of the Elderly service transfer from Hither Green Hospital into Lewisham Hospital The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust is awarded formal status as a full University Hospital by the University of London and changes the name of Lewisham Hospital to University Hospital Lewisham

1998
The Ladywell unit providing mental health at the hospital site is officially opened by Frank Dobson Secretary of State for Health

2002
Start of the pound58 million phase 3 scheme of the hospitals redevelopment programme to replace old style Nightingale wards with modern facilities

2007
The Riverside wing is officially opened by Arch Desmond Tutu The new building has photovoltaic panels on the roof to contribute towards the energy needed to run it