Hillingdon Hospital
Encyclopedia
Hillingdon Hospital is an NHS hospital, located in Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon
, Greater London
. It is a general hospital serving the local area, providing a wide variety of services including Accident and Emergency (64,000 patients annually), In-patients, Day Surgery and Outpatient Clinics. It is an incredibly busy hospital, possibly due to the proximity of Heathrow Airport.
It is one of only two hospitals run by The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
, the other being Mount Vernon Hospital
.
The hospital has a PALS office based on site, The Hillingdon Consulting Rooms for private patients and its own hospital radio station (Radio Hillingdon) staffed by volunteers.
The current chairman is Anthony Valentine, and the chief executive is David McVittie.
By 1830, the workhouse had grown considerably in size, and it was decided to expand it to accommodate male and females separately.
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 resulted in the building of the Uxbridge Union Workhouse on the site in around 1838.
Middlesex County Council
took charge of the Uxbridge Union buildings in 1930 and began development into the Hillingdon Institution an acute hospital.
Rapid progress was made and the hospital was significantly improved enlargened in 1932. This included replacing the wooden floors with concrete ones (the wooden ones being too weak to cope with the weight of an operating theatre table and equipment.
The hospital was damaged by bombs in October 1940, causing much damage. There were no casualties, and the hospital was moved into temporary accommodation. This proved to be unpopular, and following the war, the number of beds in the hospital declined due to a lack of staff. The Medical Director of the time Dr. W Arklay Steel was concerned at the condition of the hospital. In 1948, when the NHS took charge, the hospital consisted of a series of temporary buildings in varying states of disrepair.
In 1957, it was agreed to rebuild Hillingdon Hospital. Following this, in 1960, the maternity wing of the hospital was opened and is still in operation today.
Sir Arnold France, Secretary of the Ministry of Health opened the current Hillingdon Hospital on 10 January 1967. It had cost £3.2 million to build. It provided seven new wards including the provision of some single rooms, outpatients department, imaging department, Accident and Emergency services, Operating theatres and recovery suites, pathology laboratories, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and a canteen.
It was heralded as being an innovative new hospital, with a central vacuum system and piped oxygen throughout. Wards were named alphabetically, with K for Kennedy Ward being at the top of the hospital.
In December 2008, Bevan Ward was opened. This ward, named in honour of the founder of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan
, consists of three clusters of eight ensuite patient rooms. Each cluster is slightly different in design, allowing detailed research into patient satisfaction, sleep quality, privacy and infection rates This has been heralded as the future of hospital care in the UK.Patients and staff alike are very pleased with the new facilities, with some describing it as a five-star hotel. It was visited in 2009 by Health Secretary Alan Johnson
who was apparently struck by the patient satisfaction.
The newly refurbished Fleming Ward opened in November 2009.
An eye clinic at the hospital received an award in 2010 from the Macular Disease Society
for its work in Macular Degeneration
.
The hospital trust became an independent NHS foundation trust
on 1 April 2011.
.
Since 1967, the condition of the hospital building has deteriorated rapidly, particularly the tape framed windows and roofing. Some wards have been refurbished as part of an ongoing plan to improve the hospital. It is in the middle of plans to rebuild the hospital, and is talks with government departments and private companies to make this happen.
Hygiene standards have been criticised on several occasions, achieving the dubious award of being 4th worst for hygiene in a survey from the Healthcare Commission.
, during the birth of Derek Trotters son Damien, as well as Family Affairs
, Inspector Morse
, and the BBC documentary Airport
.
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
. It is a general hospital serving the local area, providing a wide variety of services including Accident and Emergency (64,000 patients annually), In-patients, Day Surgery and Outpatient Clinics. It is an incredibly busy hospital, possibly due to the proximity of Heathrow Airport.
It is one of only two hospitals run by The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the NHS trust responsible for the healthcare services provided at Hillingdon Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital in the London Borough of Hillingdon....
, the other being Mount Vernon Hospital
Mount Vernon Hospital
Mount Vernon Hospital is one of two hospitals run by The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, located in Northwood.-History:The hospital was founded in 1860 as The North London Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest in Fitzroy Square and moved in 1864 to Mount Vernon in Hampstead...
.
The hospital has a PALS office based on site, The Hillingdon Consulting Rooms for private patients and its own hospital radio station (Radio Hillingdon) staffed by volunteers.
The current chairman is Anthony Valentine, and the chief executive is David McVittie.
History
In 1744, Hillingdon Vestry decided to build a workhouse. Finding a suitable site proved difficult, but it was finally decided to build it near Colham Green. The work on this was completed in 1747.By 1830, the workhouse had grown considerably in size, and it was decided to expand it to accommodate male and females separately.
The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 resulted in the building of the Uxbridge Union Workhouse on the site in around 1838.
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
took charge of the Uxbridge Union buildings in 1930 and began development into the Hillingdon Institution an acute hospital.
Rapid progress was made and the hospital was significantly improved enlargened in 1932. This included replacing the wooden floors with concrete ones (the wooden ones being too weak to cope with the weight of an operating theatre table and equipment.
The hospital was damaged by bombs in October 1940, causing much damage. There were no casualties, and the hospital was moved into temporary accommodation. This proved to be unpopular, and following the war, the number of beds in the hospital declined due to a lack of staff. The Medical Director of the time Dr. W Arklay Steel was concerned at the condition of the hospital. In 1948, when the NHS took charge, the hospital consisted of a series of temporary buildings in varying states of disrepair.
In 1957, it was agreed to rebuild Hillingdon Hospital. Following this, in 1960, the maternity wing of the hospital was opened and is still in operation today.
Sir Arnold France, Secretary of the Ministry of Health opened the current Hillingdon Hospital on 10 January 1967. It had cost £3.2 million to build. It provided seven new wards including the provision of some single rooms, outpatients department, imaging department, Accident and Emergency services, Operating theatres and recovery suites, pathology laboratories, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and a canteen.
It was heralded as being an innovative new hospital, with a central vacuum system and piped oxygen throughout. Wards were named alphabetically, with K for Kennedy Ward being at the top of the hospital.
In December 2008, Bevan Ward was opened. This ward, named in honour of the founder of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin Bevan
Aneurin "Nye" Bevan was a British Labour Party politician who was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1959 until his death in 1960. The son of a coal miner, Bevan was a lifelong champion of social justice and the rights of working people...
, consists of three clusters of eight ensuite patient rooms. Each cluster is slightly different in design, allowing detailed research into patient satisfaction, sleep quality, privacy and infection rates This has been heralded as the future of hospital care in the UK.Patients and staff alike are very pleased with the new facilities, with some describing it as a five-star hotel. It was visited in 2009 by Health Secretary Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson
Alan Arthur Johnson is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was...
who was apparently struck by the patient satisfaction.
The newly refurbished Fleming Ward opened in November 2009.
An eye clinic at the hospital received an award in 2010 from the Macular Disease Society
Macular Disease Society
Macular Disease Society is the only UK charity dedicated to helping people with Macular Degeneration.Providing information and practical support for visually impaired people, their families and carers....
for its work in Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a medical condition which usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults...
.
The hospital trust became an independent NHS foundation trust
NHS Foundation Trust
An NHS foundation trust is part of the National Health Service in England and has gained a degree of independence from the Department of Health and local NHS strategic health authority.Foundation Trusts are represented by the , .-Function:...
on 1 April 2011.
Future
Its long term aim is to provide emergency and acute medical care at the site, with all general surgeries and other services being provided at Mount Vernon HospitalMount Vernon Hospital
Mount Vernon Hospital is one of two hospitals run by The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, located in Northwood.-History:The hospital was founded in 1860 as The North London Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest in Fitzroy Square and moved in 1864 to Mount Vernon in Hampstead...
.
Since 1967, the condition of the hospital building has deteriorated rapidly, particularly the tape framed windows and roofing. Some wards have been refurbished as part of an ongoing plan to improve the hospital. It is in the middle of plans to rebuild the hospital, and is talks with government departments and private companies to make this happen.
Criticism
Hillingdon hospital has received heavy criticism over the years, including coming in the top 12 worst hospitals "in the country". In 2003, there was a case of post-mortem desecration of a body. Additionally, a MRSA hospital infection rate of 0.18 per 1,000 bed days was recorded; and several complaints regarding the expensive parking on site.Hygiene standards have been criticised on several occasions, achieving the dubious award of being 4th worst for hygiene in a survey from the Healthcare Commission.
Depiction in film
The hospital has been a popular filming location for many programmes including Only Fools and HorsesOnly Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
, during the birth of Derek Trotters son Damien, as well as Family Affairs
Family Affairs
Family Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
, Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
, and the BBC documentary Airport
Airport (TV series)
Airport is a British documentary television series based at London Heathrow Airport, the world's busiest international airport, broadcast by the BBC and syndicated to Dave, part of the UKTV network....
.