St. Bartholomew’s Hospital: A Nine-Century Legacy of Care and Innovation

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, located in Smithfield, London, stands as one of the oldest hospitals in the world, with a rich history that spans nearly nine centuries. Founded in 1123 by Rahere, an Augustinian monk and former courtier of Henry I, the hospital was established alongside the Priory of St. Bartholomew. The Augustinian canons performed daily liturgies and commemorated the founders with prayers, while resident nurses and secular chaplains tended to the physical and spiritual needs of the poor, infirm, and unmarried pregnant women. The hospital also served as a sanctuary for orphans and operated a grammar school.

In 1546, Henry VII granted the hospital to the City of London, ensuring its continuation by endowing it with property for income just before his death in 1547. This endowment marked the beginning of a new era for the hospital. Thomas Vicary, the first superintendent, was a significant figure in early medical literature, notably for his work on anatomy. The hospital's reputation for medical excellence was further cemented with the appointment of its first physician in 1562. In the early 17th century, William Harvey, who discovered the circulation of blood, oversaw patient care at the hospital, which then had a capacity of 200 beds and a small medical staff, including three surgeons, an apothecary, and several Augustinian nuns.

The hospital continued to evolve, and with the creation of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948, it officially became known as St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Today, it remains a vital part of the NHS, providing cutting-edge medical care while retaining its historical significance. The hospital's long history reflects its enduring commitment to healthcare and its ability to adapt and thrive through centuries of change, from medieval times to the modern era.
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital: A Nine-Century Legacy of Care and Innovation

Evolution of Hospital Institutions in England: From Early Foundations to Eighteenth-Century Advancements

An institutional focus in a hospital setting in England evolved significantly during the late eighteenth century. Archaeological discoveries across Britain have unearthed some of the world’s earliest hospitals, showcasing advanced infrastructure for their time. These hospitals boasted excellent plumbing and sewerage systems designed for optimal hygiene. Some even had flushing toilets where water effectively carried away waste, a testament to their sophisticated design. The buildings were divided into separate wards, likely to isolate infectious diseases, demonstrating an early understanding of contagion control.

One of the first organized hospitals in the United Kingdom was St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in Smithfield, London, founded in 1123. This institution was a pioneer in hospital care and was granted a Royal Charter by King Henry VIII in 1546, solidifying its importance in medical history. Another notable early hospital was St. Nicholas Hospital in Harbledown, near Canterbury. Founded in 1084 by Archbishop Lanfranc, it provided care for the outcast, aged, and infirm, emphasizing the role of hospitals in serving vulnerable populations.

In a significant archaeological discovery in 2010, researchers uncovered the ancient hospital of England in Winchester, Hampshire. Radio carbon analysis of the site revealed a date range of AD 960-1030 for a series of burials, many showing evidence of leprosy. This discovery highlighted the existence of organized healthcare facilities well before the institutional focus of the eighteenth century.

The eighteenth century saw the establishment of voluntary general hospitals across England, marking the beginning of formal teaching programs. Westminster Hospital (1719), Guy’s Hospital (1725), and St. George’s Hospital (1733) in London exemplified this new movement. These institutions laid the foundation for modern medical education and hospital care, significantly advancing the healthcare system in England.
Evolution of Hospital Institutions in England: From Early Foundations to Eighteenth-Century Advancements

History of St Thomas's Hospital

St Thomas's Hospital had its origins as the infirmary of the Augustinian Priory of St Mary Overy and was run by the 11 brothers and sisters of the monastery.

The hospital was established in 1173 and dissolved in 1540. The infirmary assumed the name of St Thomas the Martyr shortly after his canonization in 1173. St Thomas the Martyr (St. Thomas Becket) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170 (he was slaughtered by the King’s knights).

Following a disastrous fire in 1212, the priory and the hospital developed quite separately. The site opposite the priory in Long Southwark (later known as Borough High Street) was acquired by the hospital in 1215 and occupied until 1862.

During the Reformation in 1540 the hospital, along with many other religious foundations, was dispossessed of its revenues and closed. The Hospital was refounded by royal charter in 1551, one of five major endowed royal hospitals established in London in the mid-sixteenth century, which also include Bridewell. The hospital re-opened with 120 beds and three Barber Surgeons, assisted by apprentices, were appointed, possibly marking the beginning of St Thomas's Hospital Medical School.

In 1649 Thomas Wharton (1614- 1673) was appointed an anatomist at St Thomas’ Hospital. His work gave the first thorough account of the glands of the human body, which Wharton classified as excretory, reductive, and nutrient. In 1657, Wharton was appointed physician to St Thomas’s Hospital, London, a post he held for the rest of his life.

St Thomas’ Hospital taught students from the 16th century. In 1726. St Thomas offered teaching as a joint undertaking with Guy’s Hospital.

In 1859 Florence Nightingale became involved with Saint Thomas' setting up on this site her famous nursing school, the Nightingale Training School.
History of St Thomas's Hospital

History of hospital in United Kingdom

An institutional focus in a hospital setting evolved in England only during the late eighteenth century. In the various part of Britain archeologist have discovered some of the world’s first hospital.

They had excellent plumbing and sewerage systems designed for good hygiene, for some had flushing toilets where water carried away waste products.

The hospitals building are divided into separate wards, probably to isolate infectious disease.

History reveals that one of the first traces of an organized hospital in the United Kingdom was the St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Smithfield in London, founded in 1123.

The hospital was granted a Royal Charter by King Henry VIII in 1546.

Another hospital was St. Nicholas hospitals, Harbledown, near Canterbury. It was founded in the year of 1084, by Archbishop Lanfranc, to care for the outcast, aged and infirm.

In 2010, archeologists discovered the ancient hospital of England in Winchester, Hampshire. Radio carbon analysis provided a date range of AD 960-1030 for a series of burials, many exhibiting evidence of leprosy, on the site.

Voluntary general hospitals and with them the beginning of teaching programs, began to be established in all parts of the country during the eighteenth century. Westminster (1719), Guy’s (1725) and St. George’s (1733) represented the new movement in London.
History of hospital in United Kingdom