Hertford County Hospital

Hertford County Hospital is situated in the town of Hertford, county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is run by the East and North Hertfordshire NHS PCT Trust.

Founding

The history of the hospital starts in 1822 when a General Dispensary was established in one room of Hertford Castle 'for the relief of the sick poor by affording them gratuitous advice and medicine' [ [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=413&hospit=&page=27 The National Archives | Search the archives | Hospital Records| Details ] ] . James Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury, then Lord-Lieutenant of the county was elected patron and president.

On 17th July 1832 the foundation stone of the new hospital was laid by the Bishop of Lincoln in whose diocese Herford was, and the doors of the General Infirmary as it was then known were opened to in-patients less than a year later; 47 being admitted in the first six months.

Beer was brewed and served at the hospital, six barrels being on the first years accounts, and one and a half barrels of porter (which was given for blood disorders).

Over the years the hospital suffered a number of financial crises, being supported by various fund raising activities and subscriptions by the people of the town and surrounding areas. Subscribers included Professor T. R. Malthus, Baron Dimsdale and Earl Cowper, By 1835 the financial crisis had limited the number of in-patient beds to 10, but during the following years this number was increased. Electricity was installed in 1902 and the hospital gained its present name in 1908.

Re-construction

In 1932, a hundred years after the founding of the hospital it was re-built, enlarged and modernised throughout at a cost of £72,000, and in 1975 a large extension was provided for out-patients.

In 2003 work began on the development of a much-needed brand new hospital on the same site. This new £8.5 million facility opened its doors to patients in November 2004. The official opening by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Sir Simon Bowes Lyon, KCVO, took place on 9 September 2005.

The original hospital buildings are listed and have been converted into 16 executive apartments. [ [http://newhomes-hertford.co.uk New Homes in Hertford ] ] Half the carpark has been closed to the public, resulting in a drastic shortage of available spaces. The exorbitant parking fee has not been reduced to allow for this inconvenience.

External links

* [http://www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk/aboutus/Hertford%20County.php?menu=sub_menu&main_id=77&id=112 Hospital webpage]
* [http://www.hertford.net/pictures/county_hospital.asp Photos of Hertford County Hospital in May 2003 before redevelopment]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=413&hospit=&page=27 Hertford County Hospital] on the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/default.asp Hospital Records Database]
* [http://www.mvcn.nhs.uk/virtual/tour_hertfordhosp.asp Slideshow of outpatients department]

Further reading

"150 years of Healing" by Cyril Heath publised in 1983 on the 150th anniversary of the Hospital.

References