Identity area
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Authorized form of name
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Charing Cross Hospital was founded by Dr. Benjamin Golding in 1818 and initially known as West London Infirmary (not to be confused with West London Hospital, see H79). For most of its history it was located near Charing Cross, just off The Strand in Agar Street and provided a service in central London until its move to a new building in Fulham in 1972. Its site in the heart of London's 'Theatre Land' led it to be known as the 'Actors' Hospital'.
The idea of moving Charing Cross Hospital from its Agar Street site was being considered as far back as 1936. In 1957 the Ministry of Health proposed building on the site of the Fulham Hospital and merging the Fulham (see H77), West London (see H79) and Charing Cross hospitals in one. The proposal was accepted in July 1958. Planning of the new complex started in 1959 and construction work began in 1968.
The first phase of the new hospital became operational in January 1973. Early in 1973 both the old Charing Cross Hospital and the Fulham Hospital closed down completely and patients were transferred to the new Charing Cross Hospital. West London Hospital remained open until the new hospital complex was finished, although it ceased to be a District General Hospital when Accident and Emergency services moved to the new Charing Cross Hospital.
The new Charing Cross Hospital was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 22nd May 1973. In 1974 the main building in the new hospital complex, the 18 storey tower block, had 650 beds and there were 10 operating theatres.
Charing Cross was one of the first hospitals to start formal training for nurses and the Nursing School was inaugurated in 1889. A new building for the School of Nursing on the Charing Cross Hospital site was opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent in September 1970. In 1974 the School of Nursing provided facilities for the training of up to 480 student and pupil nurses and other nursing staff on 'in-service' or post-certificate programmes.
In the NHS reorganisation of 1974 the hospital became part of the new South Hammersmith Health District. Since 2007 Charing Cross Hospital has formed part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.