Whipps Cross University Hospital
Encyclopedia
Whipps Cross University Hospital is an NHS
-run University Hospital
in Whipps Cross
, Waltham Forest
, London
, United Kingdom
which housed London's first Hyperbaric Unit
.
The hospital is geographically close to the site of the 2012 Olympics, has one of the largest and busiest A&E departments in the UK and serves a diverse community from Chigwell
to Leyton
. The hospital also has the lowest MRSA rates in London for three years running as of 2008. The chief executive of the hospital is Catherine Geedes.
Board of Guardians
purchased Forest House with 44 acre (0.17806184 km²; 0.0687500607869586 sq mi) of grounds at Whipps Cross
in Leytonstone
, with the intention of building a work house. Construction of an infirmary started in 1900 and was completed in 1903. Designed by Francis Sturdy, the former main entrance is in the style of a northern Renaissance
town hall. When it opened the infirmary provided 672 beds in 24 wards in four awe-inspiring symmetrical blocks with tiered covered walkways and two massive towers. The buildings cost £186,000 to construct, which was criticised as extravagant.
During World War I
, the infirmary was used to treat wounded troops; a brass plaque in the main corridor has this inscription: "This tablet was erected to commemorate the visit of Their Majesties King George V & Queen Mary
with H.R.H. Princess Mary
, to this Infirmary and War Hospital on Saturday, November 17th 1917, when Their Majesties visited the wounded soldiers and the Queen presented the medals and certificates of training to the nurses."
By the end of the war, the infirmary had started to become a general hospital and the name was changed to Whipps Cross Hospital. Management passed from the Board of Guardians to the County Borough of West Ham
council in 1930 as a result of the Local Government Act, 1929. In 1936 the hospital had 741 acute medical and surgical beds. A major extension to the east of the old Infirmary block and that was planned and was opened in July 1940. The Hospital transferred to the new National Health Service
in 1946 as part of the NE Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. The 17th century Forest House was used as a ward for male mental patients; it was closed in 1962 when a new hostel, Samuel Boyce Lodge, was opened, and was finally demolished in 1964.
The hospital is divided into 6 different coloured zones - Red, Orange, Pink, Green, Purple and Yellow. The Orange zone is the oldest part of the hospital and is home to the main entrance and dental teaching facilities. The Red zone houses the A & E unit (now referred to as the EUCC) and medical admission ward, hospital shops, offices and restaurant. The various radiology facilities can be found in the Pink Zone. The Green zone contains intensive care, one dialysis unit, respiratory, renal, stroke and rehabilitation wards, the cardiology department, a research unit and the noted hyperbaric unit. The Yellow zone holds surgical wards, half the operating theatres and the outpatients department. The Purple zone is maternity - ante-natal and post natal. The wards can be found throughout the hospital, across the various coloured zonings. The hospital website hosts a comprehensive map detailing specific locations.
As of summer 2006 the hospital is undergoing a turnaround process, designed to head off a projected £40 million deficit. The turnaround team is headed by an external consultant and is expected to take up to three years to bring the hospital back to financial viability.
Around 450 jobs are expected to be lost including nurses, doctors, administrators and managers.
Unrelated to the financial situation faced by the hospital, a review of the North East London health economy has cast doubts over the future of the hospital and / or neighbouring King George Hospital when the newly upgraded Oldchurch Hospital is complete. It is not clear if the work of the turnaround team will place the hospital in a better or worse position for the next review, as it is not yet clear which services might be required on a smaller and more acute site into the future.
As of early 2011 the redevelopment of the A&E Department is going ahead and is expected to be finished before the 2012 Summer Olympics
.
and Annabel Port
who went on to Virgin Radio
. The current Station Director is Phil Hughes. Central to the programming on the station is the daily request show, hosted by a variety of presenters including long-standing host Ian Betteridge. During the football season there are often live commentaries from West Ham
and Leyton Orient home matches as well as a general sports round-up, in addition to a weekly sports magazine programme on Sunday afternoon. Local news is well-served and a national news bulletin is provided by Independent Radio News
.
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...
-run University Hospital
University hospital
A university hospital is an institution which combines the services of a hospital with the education of medical students and with medical research. These hospitals are typically affiliated with a medical school or university...
in Whipps Cross
Whipps Cross
Whipps Cross is an area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. It is most famous for Whipps Cross University Hospital.-The environs:...
, Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city...
, 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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which housed London's first Hyperbaric Unit
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric medicine, also known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy , is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. The equipment required consists of a pressure chamber, which may be of rigid or flexible construction, and a means of delivering 100% oxygen...
.
The hospital is geographically close to the site of the 2012 Olympics, has one of the largest and busiest A&E departments in the UK and serves a diverse community from Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
to Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
. The hospital also has the lowest MRSA rates in London for three years running as of 2008. The chief executive of the hospital is Catherine Geedes.
History
In 1889 the West HamWest Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
Board of Guardians
Board of Guardians
Boards of guardians were ad hoc authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930.-England and Wales:The boards were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish Overseers of the Poor established under the old poor law, following the recommendations...
purchased Forest House with 44 acre (0.17806184 km²; 0.0687500607869586 sq mi) of grounds at Whipps Cross
Whipps Cross
Whipps Cross is an area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. It is most famous for Whipps Cross University Hospital.-The environs:...
in Leytonstone
Leytonstone
Leytonstone is an area of east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is a high density suburban area, located seven miles north east of Charing Cross in the ceremonial county of Greater London and the historic county of Essex...
, with the intention of building a work house. Construction of an infirmary started in 1900 and was completed in 1903. Designed by Francis Sturdy, the former main entrance is in the style of a northern Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
town hall. When it opened the infirmary provided 672 beds in 24 wards in four awe-inspiring symmetrical blocks with tiered covered walkways and two massive towers. The buildings cost £186,000 to construct, which was criticised as extravagant.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the infirmary was used to treat wounded troops; a brass plaque in the main corridor has this inscription: "This tablet was erected to commemorate the visit of Their Majesties King George V & Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
with H.R.H. Princess Mary
Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood was a member of the British Royal Family; she was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sixth holder of the title of Princess Royal...
, to this Infirmary and War Hospital on Saturday, November 17th 1917, when Their Majesties visited the wounded soldiers and the Queen presented the medals and certificates of training to the nurses."
By the end of the war, the infirmary had started to become a general hospital and the name was changed to Whipps Cross Hospital. Management passed from the Board of Guardians to the County Borough of West Ham
County Borough of West Ham
West Ham was a local government district in the extreme south west of Essex from 1886 to 1965, forming part of the built-up area of London, although outside the County of London...
council in 1930 as a result of the Local Government Act, 1929. In 1936 the hospital had 741 acute medical and surgical beds. A major extension to the east of the old Infirmary block and that was planned and was opened in July 1940. The Hospital transferred to the new 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...
in 1946 as part of the NE Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. The 17th century Forest House was used as a ward for male mental patients; it was closed in 1962 when a new hostel, Samuel Boyce Lodge, was opened, and was finally demolished in 1964.
Services and facilities
Whipps Cross provides a full range of local general hospital services and is home to one of the busiest A&E departments in the country dealing with over 200 patients a day.The hospital is divided into 6 different coloured zones - Red, Orange, Pink, Green, Purple and Yellow. The Orange zone is the oldest part of the hospital and is home to the main entrance and dental teaching facilities. The Red zone houses the A & E unit (now referred to as the EUCC) and medical admission ward, hospital shops, offices and restaurant. The various radiology facilities can be found in the Pink Zone. The Green zone contains intensive care, one dialysis unit, respiratory, renal, stroke and rehabilitation wards, the cardiology department, a research unit and the noted hyperbaric unit. The Yellow zone holds surgical wards, half the operating theatres and the outpatients department. The Purple zone is maternity - ante-natal and post natal. The wards can be found throughout the hospital, across the various coloured zonings. The hospital website hosts a comprehensive map detailing specific locations.
Future
A redevelopment of the site planned for 2012 has now been abandoned after the withdrawal of one potential PFI partner. Subsequent plans to redevelop the hospital in stages has also been put on hold whilst financial turnaround is in progress.As of summer 2006 the hospital is undergoing a turnaround process, designed to head off a projected £40 million deficit. The turnaround team is headed by an external consultant and is expected to take up to three years to bring the hospital back to financial viability.
Around 450 jobs are expected to be lost including nurses, doctors, administrators and managers.
Unrelated to the financial situation faced by the hospital, a review of the North East London health economy has cast doubts over the future of the hospital and / or neighbouring King George Hospital when the newly upgraded Oldchurch Hospital is complete. It is not clear if the work of the turnaround team will place the hospital in a better or worse position for the next review, as it is not yet clear which services might be required on a smaller and more acute site into the future.
As of early 2011 the redevelopment of the A&E Department is going ahead and is expected to be finished before the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.
Radio
The hospital has its own radio service, Whipps Cross Hospital Radio, a registered charity founded in 1969 by the Walthamstow Lions Club to provide entertainment and information to the patients and staff. The station has been broadcasting 24 hours a day since 2004. Former presenters have included Chris SerleChris Serle
Christopher "Chris" Richard Serle is a former BBC TV presenter, reporter and actor. Serle was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied modern languages...
and Annabel Port
Annabel Port
Annabel Port is a British radio presenter who currently acts as a sidekick on Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show, broadcast from Monday to Friday on Absolute Radio from 5 pm to 8 pm. She is known for her witty sense of humour and eccentric behaviour...
who went on to Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
. The current Station Director is Phil Hughes. Central to the programming on the station is the daily request show, hosted by a variety of presenters including long-standing host Ian Betteridge. During the football season there are often live commentaries from West Ham
West Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
and Leyton Orient home matches as well as a general sports round-up, in addition to a weekly sports magazine programme on Sunday afternoon. Local news is well-served and a national news bulletin is provided by Independent Radio News
Independent Radio News
Independent Radio News provides a service of news bulletins, audio and copy to commercial radio stations in the UK and beyond.The managing director of IRN is Tim Molloy, who succeeded long-term MD John Perkins in November 2009...
.
Notable births
- David BeckhamDavid BeckhamDavid Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
- Graham GoochGraham GoochGraham Alan Gooch OBE DL is a former cricketer who captained Essex and England. He was one of the most successful international batsmen of his generation, and through a career spanning from 1973 until 2000, he became the most prolific run scorer of all time with 67,057 runs...
- Jonathan RossJonathan Ross (television presenter)Jonathan Stephen Ross, OBE is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting the BBC One chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross from 2001 until he left the BBC in 2010. Ross began hosting a new chat show on ITV1 starting 3 September 2011...
- Steve HarrrisSteve Harris (musician)Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
- Richard AyoadeRichard AyoadeRichard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, actor, writer and director best known for his role as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd.Ayoade was born an only child to a Norwegian mother, Dagny , and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. Ayoade studied at St...
- Rita Simons
- David Bailey