Atkinson Morley Hospital
Encyclopedia
Atkinson Morley Hospital (AMH) 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
(CT) on a human being in 1972 by Godfrey Hounsfield
for which he was awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
The hospital was opened in 1869 following a donation of £100,000 by Mr Atkinson Morley, a wealthy hotelier and landowner, to St George's Hospital
"for receiving, maintaining, and generally assisting convalescent poor patients". Mr Atkinson Morley had been a medical student at St George's Hospital
, Hyde Park Corner
about 1800. 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) of land from the Duke of Wellington
's old estate in Wimbledon
was bought and a building was constructed in the Second Empire style.
The hospital remained a convalescent home until 1939. During World War II
, when the Bolingbroke and St. George’s acted as emergency hospitals for war casualties, the Neurosurgery Unit was established at the AMH by the neurosurgeon Sir Wylie McKissock
. As the Regional Neurosciences Unit for South West London, the hospital even had its own helicopter landing facility. Next door was the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre
.
The hospital remained open until 2003 when neurology services were relocated to a purpose-built wing of the main St George's Hospital site, which had by then moved to Tooting
. The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre
is still located in Wimbledon and provides a rehabilitation service to patients of the new Atkinson Morley's Wing at St.George's Hospital and throughout South West London.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, SW20
SW postcode area
The SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as...
, 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...
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
Computed tomography
X-ray computed tomography or Computer tomography , is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing...
(CT) on a human being in 1972 by Godfrey Hounsfield
Godfrey Hounsfield
Sir Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield CBE, FRS, was an English electrical engineer who shared the 1979 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Allan McLeod Cormack for his part in developing the diagnostic technique of X-ray computed tomography .His name is immortalised in the Hounsfield scale, a...
for which he was awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
The hospital was opened in 1869 following a donation of £100,000 by Mr Atkinson Morley, a wealthy hotelier and landowner, to St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
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....
"for receiving, maintaining, and generally assisting convalescent poor patients". Mr Atkinson Morley had been a medical student at St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
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....
, 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...
about 1800. 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) of land from the Duke of Wellington
Duke of Wellington
The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
's old estate 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...
was bought and a building was constructed in the Second Empire style.
The hospital remained a convalescent home until 1939. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the Bolingbroke and St. George’s acted as emergency hospitals for war casualties, the Neurosurgery Unit was established at the AMH by the neurosurgeon Sir Wylie McKissock
Wylie McKissock
Sir Wylie McKissock, OBE was a British neurosurgeon. He set up the neurosurgical unit at the Atkinson Morley Hospital, was Britain's most prolific leucotomist , and president of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons.McKissock was born in Staines, Surrey. His parents were Alexander Cathie...
. As the Regional Neurosciences Unit for South West London, the hospital even had its own helicopter landing facility. Next door was the Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre
Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre
The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre , also better known simply as The Wolfson, is a specialist neurorehabilitation centre based in Wimbledon, south west London. The WNRC is part of St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust.-History:...
.
The hospital remained open until 2003 when neurology services were relocated to a purpose-built wing of the main St George's Hospital site, which had by then moved to 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:...
. The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre
Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre
The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre , also better known simply as The Wolfson, is a specialist neurorehabilitation centre based in Wimbledon, south west London. The WNRC is part of St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust.-History:...
is still located in Wimbledon and provides a rehabilitation service to patients of the new Atkinson Morley's Wing at St.George's Hospital and throughout South West London.