Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1969-1988 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1.66 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital (EGA) was originally founded in 1872 and moved to its Euston Road site in 1889. Its aim was to enable women doctors to practice medicine and to give women the right to be treated by doctors of their own sex.
The future of the hospital was first threatened in the early 1970's due to the General Nursing Council decision to stop training student nurses there. Without subsidised trainee staff, the hospital was hard pressed to keep within its budget. Subsequently the MP Barbara Castle, Secretary of State for Health and Social Services, agreed to the closure of the EGA but only on the condition that a suitable alternative was found. In March 1976 the hospital lifts and fire escapes were declared unsafe and unsuccessful attempts were made by the Area Health Authority to transfer the functions of the EGA to the Whittington Hospital.
It was against such a background that the Staff Action Committee was set up, with representatives from all sections of the hospital, in an attempt to keep the hospital open and to maintain its objectives.
Between 1975 and 1979 the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Appeal Trust lobbied to save the hospital and raised £900,000 from the public. After the general election in May 1979, the new government reversed the earlier decision and granted £2 million to convert the hospital into a small gynaecological unit, where women could be treated by women. The hospital reopened in 1984 with modern facilities, a new Well Women's service and good operating theatres. In 1982 the hospital came under the control of the Bloomsbury Health Authority, and since 1991, Bloomsbury and Islington Health Authority. Despite closing the Soho Hospital for Women in 1988, the health authority decided in 1992 to close the beds at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital and to use the hospital for day surgery only.
Repository
Archival history
ACC/2295 1969-1988 Collection 1.66 linear metres Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Staff Action Committee
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital (EGA) was originally founded in 1872 and moved to its Euston Road site in 1889. Its aim was to enable women doctors to practice medicine and to give women the right to be treated by doctors of their own sex.
The future of the hospital was first threatened in the early 1970's due to the General Nursing Council decision to stop training student nurses there. Without subsidised trainee staff, the hospital was hard pressed to keep within its budget. Subsequently the MP Barbara Castle, Secretary of State for Health and Social Services, agreed to the closure of the EGA but only on the condition that a suitable alternative was found. In March 1976 the hospital lifts and fire escapes were declared unsafe and unsuccessful attempts were made by the Area Health Authority to transfer the functions of the EGA to the Whittington Hospital.
It was against such a background that the Staff Action Committee was set up, with representatives from all sections of the hospital, in an attempt to keep the hospital open and to maintain its objectives.
Between 1975 and 1979 the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Appeal Trust lobbied to save the hospital and raised £900,000 from the public. After the general election in May 1979, the new government reversed the earlier decision and granted £2 million to convert the hospital into a small gynaecological unit, where women could be treated by women. The hospital reopened in 1984 with modern facilities, a new Well Women's service and good operating theatres. In 1982 the hospital came under the control of the Bloomsbury Health Authority, and since 1991, Bloomsbury and Islington Health Authority. Despite closing the Soho Hospital for Women in 1988, the health authority decided in 1992 to close the beds at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital and to use the hospital for day surgery only.
Received in 1989 (ACC/2295).
Papers of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Staff Action Committee, 1969-1988, including Committee minutes; general correspondence; proposals for the future of the Hospital; correspondence with peers and Members of Parliament; papers concerning dealings with health and local authorities; letters of support; papers regarding publicity; pamphlets and publications.
In sections according to catalogue.
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Copyright: City of London
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
The records of the hospital itself are also deposited at LMA (H13/EGA).
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. January 2009 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital x St Mary's Dispensary for Women , 1866-1872 x New Hospital for Women , 1872-1918 Medical profession Womens hospitals Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Staff Action Committee Medical personnel Hospital staff Labour relations Trade unions Staff associations Medical institutions History Personal history Medical history Health services Hospitals Hospital administration St Marylebone London England UK Western Europe Marylebone City of Westminster Hertfordshire Mary-le-bone Personnel Medical sciences Europe People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Received in 1989 (ACC/2295).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Staff Action Committee, 1969-1988, including Committee minutes; general correspondence; proposals for the future of the Hospital; correspondence with peers and Members of Parliament; papers concerning dealings with health and local authorities; letters of support; papers regarding publicity; pamphlets and publications.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: City of London
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The records of the hospital itself are also deposited at LMA (H13/EGA).
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English