London Jewish Hospital

The ideal behind the promoters of the London Jewish Hospital movement was the provision of a strictly orthodox Jewish Hospital in London.

The movement was started in 1907 in the East End of London. By 1909 a site at Stepney Green had been acquired. In 1912 architects Messrs E.T. and E.S. Hall were instructed to prepare plans for the proposed hospital. Work on the hospital building commenced in Autumn 1914 but was forced to stop due to the outbreak of war. The foundation stone was laid on 14 November 1915 by Mrs S.D. Sasson and the first section of the building was complete by May 1916. In 1919 the Out-Patients Department was opened. The Hospital was consecrated in the same year and was publically opened on October 26, 1919. By 1921 an In-Patient Department had opened. Over the years various buildings were built to accomodate wards, nurses and operating theatres. In the 1920s it was recognised by the General Nursing Council for England and Wales as a complete training school for nurses.

In 1940 the Hospital was hit by an enemy bomb which caused considerable damage. However, it was repaired by Passover 1941. The administration of the Association responsible for the Hospital was originally based around the Council of Management and "Branches" which became essentially collecting bodies and elected Governors on the basis of the amount of their weekly contribution. (In 1915 these were Branch no. 1; Branch no. 2; Young Workers Branch no. 3; Zekeinim Branch no. 4; Woolwich Branch no. 5; North London Branch no. 6; West London Branch no. 7; North Western Branch no. 8; Ladies Branch no. 9; Juniors Branch no. 10; Achdus Branch no. 11). The branches gradually had diminishing responsibilities and the Council became the major focus.

The Hospital formed part of the National Health Service after 5th July 1948 and fell within the area of the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board set up under the act. It was still allowed to maintain its special character but 1947 was the last occasion on which the Council of Management would present a report. By 1969 the Annual Report had subsequently became known as a report of the Friends of the London Jewish Hospital Limited.

In 1966 Waverley Manor was opened as a short-stay home in Hendon, adminstered by the Friends and primarily for the patients of the London Jewish Hospital. In 1972 a big change in status occurred and the Hospital became a Geriatric Hospital under the revised Health Service Regulations.