Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history shows how the hospital developed from a 24-bed cottage hospital in 1914 to the modern Teddington Memorial Hospital and Community NHS Trust of 1999.

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The early years

1914

The number of hospital beds was increased to 24, but the existing Elfin Grove site was too small for the growing population, and there was no more space for expansion.

1919

• The Medical Committee began to look for possible sites where a new hospital and health centre could be built as a living war memorial with an obelisk outside.
• The old nursery land on which the present hospital stands was acquired for the price of £2,000 from Messrs R & D Anderson, and a family member donated £1,000 to the building fund.

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The 20s & 30s

1924 – 1934

• The money to build the new hospital was raised entirely by voluntary and charitable efforts.

• The Swan and Stag Volume is a collection of magazines which was published annually in aid of the fund, and the whole volume is held at Twickenham Library.
• The Swan and Stag became the hospital emblem.

1928

• Lord Dawson of Penn (Royal Physician) laid the foundation stone that is embedded in the side return wall by the front door.
• All the benefactors’ and donors’ names are buried at the back of the stone.
• The hospital’s kitchen garden was at the back of the hospital, where fresh fruit and vegetables were grown and used for patient and staff meals.

1929

The new hospital – known then as the Teddington, Hampton Wick and District Memorial Hospital – was opened for patients.

1933

An Operating Theatre was built as a memorial to Dr I. Coalbank (a well-known GP), followed by a Children’s Ward and single rooms for Private Patients.

1939

• The Hospital became a Casualty Clearing Station with 40 beds held ready for all war-time emergencies and casualties.
• A bomb blast wall was built in front of the Hospital, which saved it from severe damage when the church on the opposite corner received a direct hit.

 

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The 40s & 50s

1948

• The Hospital was taken over by the National Health Service and was the largest General Practitioners’ Unit under the North West Regional Board and assigned to the South West Middlesex Group of Hospitals.
• Subsequently, the Hospital was managed by the West Middlesex Hospital and Hounslow and Spelthorne Health Authority.

1954

• The League of Friends was formed.
• Voluntary services included practical help on the wards, the library trolley, canteen services, and many fundraising activities.
• From then until now, it has experienced milestone events, successes and many achievements.
• The early years of the League was geared toward raising as many funds as possible and encouraging membership through an annual subscription.

 

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The 1960s

1962 – 1968

• The Chappell Ward Day room was added – financed by ex-patients and partly furnished by the League of Friends
• The Physiotherapy Department opened – financed by the people of Teddington and surrounding districts and sponsored by Teddington Rotary Club.
• The Grace Anderson Ward Day Room was added. This, too, was financed by ex-patients and the League of Friends.
• The Male Ward Day Room was built due to the Teddington Hospital Improvement Scheme campaign and hospital fete.

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The 1970s

1971

A records room was built onto the existing Out-Patient Waiting Room, financed by voluntary contributions.

1972

• The League of Friends upgraded and furnished the Solarium on Male Ward.
• The extension of two surgeries for Consultants opened as a memorial to Dr Godfrey Morgan and was financed by voluntary contributions.

1973

A large area of the Hospital grounds was required by the Local Health Authority for the building of the Teddington Clinic.

1975

The centenary year of the original building – Elfin Grove Villas – is commemorated by various events, including a concert and barbecue.

1975 – 1978

• The League of Friends purchased equipment totalling £7,646.30.
• The money was raised by numerous events, including the Winter Wonderland and Festive Fayre bazaars, coffee mornings, tea parties and a Michlemas Supper, and generous donations.

1979

• Golden Jubilee Year of the Hospital on its present site.
• A new bathroom annexe was built and equipped to Grace Anderson Ward at a cost of £40,000 to commemorate this occasion and was financed by the League and the local community.

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The 1980s

1981

• The independent League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital was formed.
• A new project for the provision of a new X-Ray Department was launched by the League, which was subsequently held in abeyance until 1987.

1982/3

• The in-patient facilities at the Hospital were threatened with closure due to the financial difficulties of the Hounslow & Spelthorne Health Authority.
• The League organised a campaign to save the Hospital.
• Some 35,000 signatures were received on petition forms objecting to the proposal.
• In October 1983, the League organised a 24-hour candlelit Vigil on the front forecourt of the Hospital.
• Over 2,000 people attended and signed the Vigil Book.
• A Vigil Candle burned for 24 hours, and a fax was sent to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to record the event.
• In November 1983, Health Minister Kenneth Clarke received a delegation headed by MP Toby Jessel.
• In December of the same year, Kenneth Clarke reprieved the Hospital and designated 27 General Practitioner Beds.

1983 – 1985

• The Operating Theatre was closed in 1984.
  The League launched an Appeal Fund in the amount of £285,000.
• The Appeal Fund was designed to provide a new Patients Waiting Hall, League Shop, Records Room, Reception X-Ray Department, Staircase, Staff Dining Room, Outside Brick Build Store, and complete refurbishment of the Casualty and Out-Patient Departments.

1985 – 1986

• The first turf cut for the project was in December 1985.
• The foundation stone was laid in the front wall of the Hospital in July 1986. In November 1986, the Patients’ Waiting Hall, League Shop and refurbished Casualty and Out-Patient Departments were opened.

1987

The new X-Ray Department was completed and opened in July.

1989

• An appeal Fund in the amount of £300,000 was launched by the League towards building a 22-bed General Practitioner Unit, and work commenced in 1989.
• Secretary of State for Health Kenneth Clarke laid the foundation stone for the Pamela Bryant General Practitioner Unit, and Mrs Mary Baker, Director of Thames Television, opened the new Unit.

Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history:

The 1990s

1991

• The League of Friends, with support from Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity, funded and equipped a new Ultra Sound and Mammography Unit at a total cost of £150,000.
• This was the first upgrade to the X-Ray Unit – a much larger one followed.

1991 – 1993

• Teddington Memorial Hospital Action and Steering Committees were formed, comprising the League of Friends and General Practitioners, to explore NHS Trust Status.
• An application for stand-alone NHS Trust Status (funded by the League) was made to the Secretary of State for Health in January 1992.
• Following visits by Health Secretary Tom Sackville, Toby Jessel MP, and Health Secretary in the House of Lords, Baroness Cumberlege, a decision was made by the Secretary of State to grant the Hospital shadow Trust Status from April 1993 to run as a pilot scheme for other community hospitals throughout the country before becoming fully operational in 1995.
• Trust Board Chairman Maggi Lyne and Non-Executive Directors Pamela Bryant MBE, John Ryan and John Symonds were appointed by the Secretary of State and North West Thames Regional Health Authority in February. In April, Trust Board Executive Directors were appointed.

• In April, the League undertook another Appeal for £150,000 to improve further the outpatient facilities, including a minor surgery unit and supporting clinical areas.

1994

• Work was completed on the outpatient and minor surgery extension, and the final cost in the region of £185,000 was funded by a League Appeal.
• Teddington Memorial Hospital achieved full NHS Trust Status on 1st April 1995.

1995 – 1996

• The League launched an Appeal Fund for £460,000 for refurbishment projects.
• Work was completed to Chappell/Anderson Wards at a cost of £160,000, followed by refurbishing the first floor and installing a lift – costing £460,000.

1997

Ted Doc out of hours General Practitioner scheme commenced at the Hospital.

1998

• The Hospital Chapel For All Faiths was completed – funded by the League at a cost of £195,000.
• The Bishop of Kensington, The Rt. Revd. Michael Colclough conducted the Service of Blessing.
• The ceremony was attended by many religious leaders and 200 supporters, including community members, donors, and representatives of groups and organisations.
• A plaque was unveiled by Trust Chairman, Maggi Lyne, to mark the official opening.

1999

• The League donated £52,000 worth of equipment to wards and departments throughout the Hospital.
• Thames Health Primary Care Group was established and based at Teddington Memorial Hospital.
• The Hospital Trust was enlarged to embrace community services from St John’s Health Clinic, Whitton, Teddington & Hampton Clinics.
• The Hospital Trust’s name changed to Teddington Memorial Hospital and Community NHS Trust.
• The League launched an appeal for specific donations to provide one stained glass window in the Hospital Chapel to commemorate the year 2000.

• The design depicts many local scenes and embraces a theme of caring.
• The League donated £90,000 worth of equipment to various wards and departments throughout the Hospital.

To learn more about Teddington Memorial Hospital’s 20th-century history and The Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital in the 21st century, please contact us or donate, volunteer or become a member.

Buy the Teddington Memorial Booklet from the hospital shop for only 50p.