Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Encyclopedia
The Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester
is a District General Hospital serving much of central Hampshire
. It is owned and run by the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust. It is commonly abbreviated to RHCH, or alternatively, Winchester Hospital (as opposed to the nearby St Paul's Hospital [elderly rehabilitation unit] which closed in January 1998).
in 1736, but sites in the town centre proved problematic. By the mid-19th century drainage difficulties were so acute that relocation on higher ground was decided upon in 1861, albeit after much acrimonious debate. Florence Nightingale
was an advocate of the scheme and advised on the site and building.
The eminent architect William Butterfield
designed the new hospital, which opened in 1868 with sixteen in-patients and fourteen out-patients. Queen Victoria gave permission for the hospital to be 'Royal' and contributed to the appeal, which raised over £34,000 to finance the project.
Later additions to the site include the Outpatients Department in 1927, Nightingale Wing in 1986, Brinton Wing in 1992, and the new treatment and diagnostic centre (Burrell Wing) in 2006.
The site also encompasses Marfield Cottage (housing the human resources department), the Education Centre (completed 2006), Florence Portal House ( Gynaecology and Maternity) and a creche.
Although adjacent to the RHCH site the Melbury Lodge psychiatric unit is not part of the Winchester and Eastleigh NHS organisation. The Sexual Health clinic, although part of the hospital, is located off site further down Romsey Road opposite the Hampshire Constabulary
headquarters.
As of 2006 Winchester and Eastleigh NHS has been pursuing Foundation Trust status and this has resulted in major streamlining of hospital policies and procedures. Land has also been earmarked for sale to raise revenue for the trust; some plots have already been sold to outside (non-NHS) interests. This is being done with a view to most offices and clinics being moved to the new Burrell Wing.
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
is a District General Hospital serving much of central Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. It is owned and run by the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust. It is commonly abbreviated to RHCH, or alternatively, Winchester Hospital (as opposed to the nearby St Paul's Hospital [elderly rehabilitation unit] which closed in January 1998).
History
The Hampshire County Hospital was founded in WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
in 1736, but sites in the town centre proved problematic. By the mid-19th century drainage difficulties were so acute that relocation on higher ground was decided upon in 1861, albeit after much acrimonious debate. Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
was an advocate of the scheme and advised on the site and building.
The eminent architect William Butterfield
William Butterfield
William Butterfield was a Gothic Revival architect and associated with the Oxford Movement . He is noted for his use of polychromy-Biography:...
designed the new hospital, which opened in 1868 with sixteen in-patients and fourteen out-patients. Queen Victoria gave permission for the hospital to be 'Royal' and contributed to the appeal, which raised over £34,000 to finance the project.
Later additions to the site include the Outpatients Department in 1927, Nightingale Wing in 1986, Brinton Wing in 1992, and the new treatment and diagnostic centre (Burrell Wing) in 2006.
The site also encompasses Marfield Cottage (housing the human resources department), the Education Centre (completed 2006), Florence Portal House ( Gynaecology and Maternity) and a creche.
Although adjacent to the RHCH site the Melbury Lodge psychiatric unit is not part of the Winchester and Eastleigh NHS organisation. The Sexual Health clinic, although part of the hospital, is located off site further down Romsey Road opposite the Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
headquarters.
As of 2006 Winchester and Eastleigh NHS has been pursuing Foundation Trust status and this has resulted in major streamlining of hospital policies and procedures. Land has also been earmarked for sale to raise revenue for the trust; some plots have already been sold to outside (non-NHS) interests. This is being done with a view to most offices and clinics being moved to the new Burrell Wing.