Southend University Hospital

Southend University Hospital is an NHS hospital located in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. It is managed by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Southend University Hospital
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
The hospital block
Shown in Essex
Geography
LocationPrittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England
Coordinates51.5542°N 0.6878°E / 51.5542; 0.6878
Organisation
Care systemNational Health Service
Affiliated university
Services
Emergency departmentYes
Beds737
History
Opened1888
Links
Websitewww.mse.nhs.uk/southend-university-hospital

History

In 1887, to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, a public fund was started with the aim of building a hospital, and the site for Southend's first hospital was bought for £350 (in Warrior Square, near to Southend High Street). Built at a cost of £1,287 4s 6d, Southend Victoria Hospital was opened in May 1888. By Christmas, with eight beds and two cots, it had treated 61 patients at an average weekly cost of 4s 6d (22.5p).[1]

In order to allow expansion a new site was identified at Westcliff-on-Sea: building work on the new hospital, which was designed by Henry Percy Adams, began in 1930[2] and the new building was officially opened by the Rt. Hon Earl of Iveagh in 1932.[1] In 1948, when the hospital joined the National Health Service, there were 24 consultants and 11 resident medical staff.[1] The Tower Block was officially opened by Princess Anne in 1971.[3]

In December 2013, chief executive Jacqueline Totterdell announced that the Trust was considering merging some functions with other local hospitals.[4]

The trust was the only one in England not to follow the Agenda for Change conditions of service for its staff, but in January 2019 it decided to revert to the national contract.[5]

Teaching

The hospital serves as a teaching hospital for medical students from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.[6]

Transport

Local bus routes 7 and 8 operated by Arriva and 20, 21 and 25 operated by First, serve the hospital. The nearest railway stations are Westcliff and Southend Central on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and Prittlewell and Southend Victoria on the Southend branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.[7]

References
  1. "Hospital history". southend.nhs.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  2. Hughes, Jonathan (2000). "The "Matchbox on a Muffin": The Design of Hospitals in the Early NHS" (PDF). theietmarketing.ceros.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  3. "History: Hospital marks 45 years since Princess Anne opened £3 million extension". Daily Echo. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. "Savage cuts mean hospitals may start sharing departments". Southend Standard. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  5. "Last trust moves to Agenda for Change contract". Health Service Journal. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  6. "Key Facts - Medicine MBBS 5 Years (A100) - Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry". Queen Mary University of London. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  7. "Travelling by rail & bus". Southend University Hospital. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
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