Withington Community Hospital

Infobox Hospital
Name = Withington Community Hospital
Org/Group =


Caption = Former hospital premises undergo re-development

Location =
Region = Manchester
State = England
Country = UK
HealthCare = NHS
Type = Specialist
Speciality = Diagnosticscite web|url=http://www.manchesterpct.nhs.uk/local/wch/|title=Details pertaining to Withington Hospital|publisher=Manchester Primary Care Trust|date=2008|accessdate=2008-07-18]
Standards =
Emergency = No
Affiliation= University of Manchester
Beds =
Founded = 1854
Closed =
Website = http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Hospital.aspx?id=RM201&v=2&svid=134320|

Withington Community Hospital (officially known as the "Withington Community Hospital and Diagnostic and Treatment Centre") is a hospital in south Manchester, England. Despite being named as the Withington Community Hospital, due to recent local border modifications the hospital is now situated in West Didsbury. [cite web|url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/report15.pdf|title=Report 15 - Consideration fo forwarded plans|publisher=Manchester City Council|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-07-18] After a new extension to become a primary care base,cite web|url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200035&documentID=1504&pageNumber=4|title=NHS Hospital Trusts and other Care Trusts in Manchester|publisher=Manchester City Council|date=2008|accessdate=2008-07-18] it now provides specialist care to those who are awaiting diagnostic treatment and day surgery appointments. At its height, the hospital was the largest teaching hospital in Europe, [cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/118/118848_homes_or_a_hospital.html|title=Homes or a hospital?|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=2004-06-04|accessdate=2008-07-18] thanks in part to its affiliation with the University of Manchester, which is one of the largest universities in the United Kingdom. [cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/news/article626449.ece|title=Manchester unites to target world league|publisher="Sunday Times"|date=2006-09-10|accessdate=2008-07-18]

History

Originally known as the "Chorlton Barlow Moor Work House",cite web|url=http://www.urbanassault.t83.net/#/withingtonhospital/4525527427/|title=Discovering Withington Hospital|date=2007, July|accessdate=2008-07-18] the hospital was purposely built in the early-to-mid 1880s as a workhouse for the poor. In 1895, it was converted into a hospital for the poor with the notable British nurse, Florence Nightingale, quoted as to have said "...your hospital plan will be one of the best, if not the best, in the country" when writing to the architect – upon initial observation of the plans. The hospital also yielded support for the military just after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. At this time it was known as simply "Withington Hospital", being named that after a change in 1910. It was occupied by the military for some time before adopting the new National Health Service form, which was introduced in 1948 under Nye Bevan. It had developed considerably since that period until the 1990s, when the hospital faced closure; its fate was sealed when the doors shut in 2002. When this occurred, the trust operating the then defunct hospital relocated units across the city.cite web|url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/report14.pdf|title=Report 14 - Consideration of forwarded plans|publisher=Manchester City Council|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-07-18] Three of the former buildings are Grade II listed.

Re-development

In July 2008, the named developers (PJ Livesey) of the older buildings of the hospital announced that the plans to build 360 homes had been shelved.cite web|url=http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/1058658_sick_market_hits_72m_homes_plan_at_hospital|title=Sick market hits £72m homes plan at hospital|publisher=South Manchester Reporter|date=2008-07-17|accessdate=2008-07-18] The structures were to be considered for a full refurbishment into 116 apartments, 231 flats, 14 houses and other structures. It was confirmed this action was a result of the economic downturn affecting potential buyers.

References

Bibliography

*Sim, R. & Kitchen, H. - "More than a place of healing: An anthology of memories, memorabilia and anecdotes of Withington Hospital Manchester" - Hospital Arts, 1999.

External links

* [http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=3139 Pictures of the derelict buildings]