St Bartholemew's Hospital in 1900: Barts

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Arthur H. Beavan continued his survey of London's hospitals at the turn of the twentieth century in Imperial London, published in 1901, with this look at Barts:

Equal to any other in size and importance, St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1900 was second to none in antiquity, being the earliest institution of the kind in London.

Upon a waste piece of ground in Smithfield, Rahere, the founder of St. Bartholomew's Priory, built a kind of infirmary for sick persons, which was maintained until the dissolution of monasteries, when Henry VIII re-founded, and royally endowed it.

Spared by the Great Fire, though perilously within reach of its flames, it gradually became so dilapidated that it was taken down, and in 1730 was rebuilt by Gibbs.

King Hal is as prominent a personage in the history of "Bart's" (its popular name) as Thomas Guy at "Guy's," or Captain Coram at the Foundling.

His statue is over the entrance, and his portrait (after Holbein) hangs in the Court-room.

It was always well patronized by Royalty, Prince Albert having been elected as a Governor, while King Edward VII took a deep interest in its welfare.

The interior of "Bart's " was not particularly striking.

The wards were beautifully clean and well-regulated, and there was an impressive grand staircase with paintings by Hogarth, and a spacious casualty room (for Smithfield was a district where accidents were frequent), constantly in use.

The following bald but eloquent figures show how great is the service done to the community by this noble Hotel-Dieu, free to all.

in 1900 it treated over 6500 in-patients, and more than 14,000 out.

It had 744 beds, a large medical college - one of the best in the kingdom - a resident college for students, a Samaritan Fund for the relief of discharged patients, a nursing establishment, and a convalescent home at Swanley in Kent.

Of great names in medicine and surgery, Bart's had a notable list, amongst whom are Harvey, Abernethy, and Sir Richard Owen, declared by Cuvier to be the greatest anatomist of his age.

A much-needed extension of Bart's was in contemplation; special departments, we were told, being required "for the eye, for the skin, for the ear, for dental surgery, for the throat, and for electric treatment."

A new casualty, and a new out-patient department were also necessary, and in addition to this formidable list, there was wanted a new nursing home, and accommodation for a new pathological laboratory, a mortuary, an isolation block, operating theatres, and college and quarters for the resident medical staff.

To meet the above modest requirements, Bart's hoped to purchase from its neighbour, the Blue-coat School (Christ's), a snip of land between Giltspur Street and Little Britain.

Visiting days were Sundays, two to three, and Wednesdays, three to four, while on "View Day " every portion of the Hospital was officially inspected, and the public were admitted.

Next: London's Health Care System in 1900: Guy's Hospital