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Hospitals' history webpage launched

J

JStein

Guest
Tomorrow (16 June 2009), University Hospitals Birmingham, the NHS Foundation Trust which runs Selly Oak and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals is launching a webpage to celebrate the history of those two hospitals.

www.uhb.nhs.uk/histories will contain a written histories of both hospitals, a picture gallery, interviews with long-serving members of staff and a "your memories" section.

Both hospitals have very different but equally fascinating histories.

Selly Oak Hospital evolved from the old King's Norton Union Workhouse into a modern hospital facility treating thousands of complex cases of injury and disease each year. Its history is gives an intriguing insight into the social and medical history of our city.

The bulk of what is now Selly Oak Hospital's main building was built in 1897 as a new infirmary for the ajoining workhouse. When built it cost £52,000 which caused something of a scandal as the original budget had been only £18,000.

The QE on the other hand was designed as a beacon for modern medical progress in the 1930s; it replaced and consolidated the services of the 19th century teaching hospitals such as the Queens and General Hospital.

When first built, it glistened proudly on green land next to the University. Its very close links to the University have remain integral to its character. Over the years it has been at the forefront of many great scientific and medical advances.

The written histories have been developed specifically for the site and were written by:

Dr Jonathan Reinarz - Director of the Centre for History of Medicine, University of Birmingham

Valerie Richards - A retired clinical nurse specialist who is currently writing a book on the history of Selly Oak Hospital

Prof Robert Allan - A retired physician who worked at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

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I'd be really interested to know how people will remember Selly Oak and QE when they are replaced by the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, which opens in a year?
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I hope you enjoy the site!

Joe
UHB
 
When built it cost £52,000 which caused something of a scandal as the original budget had been only £18,000.

Nothing new there then! :D

Thanks for that, Joe, it should make an interesting read.

Maurice :cool:
 
Prof Robert "Rob" Allen was a consultant gastroenterologist who after many years service at Birmingham General went to work at Selly Oak Hospital on BGH closure.He was not only a talented physician but a true gentleman. I am delighted Rob is a co author of the new site but I would have even more pleased if he had contributed to a definitive history of the General Hospital of the 20th century. There was so much history contained within those walls... and indeed artefacts that have just vanished.
Having worked in all three hospitals I hope to be able to contribute further to the website. The stories I could tell.... :D
 
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