Royal Victoria Infirmary
Encyclopedia
Originally founded as the Newcastle Infirmary in 1751, the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), in Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
, was opened on 11 July 1906 by Edward VII
on 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of Town Moor
given by the Corporation and Freemen. The fully furnished and equipped hospital, containing twenty wards, a nurses' home, chapel and five operating theatres, cost over £300,000. The statue of Queen Victoria
was the gift of Riley Lord, who was knighted for his efforts in getting the Infirmary built. Overcrowding was a problem, with waiting lists of over 5,000 in the 1930s and until joining the National Health Service
, money had to be raised for extensions and new equipment - always difficult especially in the depression years. The Royal Victoria Infirmary has always had close links with the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University as a major teaching hospital. The RVI forms the hub of one of the four "clinical base units" for medical students at the university, where students spend the entire 3rd and 5th years of their medical degree.
The Royal Victoria Infirmary is managed by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust is currently embarking on a major project, "Transforming the Newcastle Hospitals", which is the culmination of over 12 years of work by the Trust and was previously known as the "Newcastle Strategic Review". The Review period is now over and construction works have started on both the Freeman
and Royal Victoria Infirmary sites.. The 'New Victoria Wing' of the RVI will also include a state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency Department, replacing that of the Newcastle General Hospital
, and is due to open in 2010, with some clinical services beginning in mid-2009.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, 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...
, was opened on 11 July 1906 by Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
on 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of Town Moor
Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Town Moor is a large area of common land in Newcastle upon Tyne. It covers an area of around 400ha, and is larger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath combined, stretching from the city centre and Spital Tongues in the south out to Cowgate/Kenton Bar to the west, Gosforth to the north and...
given by the Corporation and Freemen. The fully furnished and equipped hospital, containing twenty wards, a nurses' home, chapel and five operating theatres, cost over £300,000. The statue of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
was the gift of Riley Lord, who was knighted for his efforts in getting the Infirmary built. Overcrowding was a problem, with waiting lists of over 5,000 in the 1930s and until joining 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...
, money had to be raised for extensions and new equipment - always difficult especially in the depression years. The Royal Victoria Infirmary has always had close links with the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University as a major teaching hospital. The RVI forms the hub of one of the four "clinical base units" for medical students at the university, where students spend the entire 3rd and 5th years of their medical degree.
The Royal Victoria Infirmary is managed by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust is currently embarking on a major project, "Transforming the Newcastle Hospitals", which is the culmination of over 12 years of work by the Trust and was previously known as the "Newcastle Strategic Review". The Review period is now over and construction works have started on both the Freeman
Freeman Hospital
The Freeman Hospital is an 800-bed tertiary referral centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.The hospital is managed by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is a teaching hospital for the University of Newcastle upon Tyne...
and Royal Victoria Infirmary sites.. The 'New Victoria Wing' of the RVI will also include a state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency Department, replacing that of the Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital was for many years the main hospital for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and is managed by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust...
, and is due to open in 2010, with some clinical services beginning in mid-2009.