Mile End Hospital

Mile End Hospital has it's origins in a workhouse built by the Board of Guardians of Mile End Old Town, London, on the Bancroft Road site in 1858-1859. A new Infirmary, erected under the powers conferred by the Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867, was opened in March 1883, and a Nurse Training School was established in 1892. The institution was taken over by the military authorities during the First World War and the facilities of the Hospital were considerably improved. In 1930, when the Hospital passed to the control of the London County Council, it had 550 beds. Between 1942 and 1948 Mile End Hospital hosted a Regional Preliminary Training School for Nurses giving initial training to pupils who trained at London County Council hospitals in all parts of London.

With the introduction of National Health Service in 1948, the Hospital became part of the Stepney Group of Hospitals. The Stepney Group Hospital Management Committee merged with the Central Group in 1966 to form the East London Group. In 1968, Mile End Hospital, together with St Clement's Hospital, was transferred to the management of the Board of Governors of the London Hospital. Its designation was changed to the London Hospital (Mile End). As a result of the re-organisation in 1974, it became part of Tower Hamlets Health District. In 1990, as part of the London Hospital Group, the Hospital was granted a Royal title, becoming The Royal London Hospital (Mile End). On the closure of Bethnal Green Hospital in June 1990, the Bancroft Unit for the Care of the Elderly opened at Mile End.

The Hospital was part of The Royal London Hospital and its Associated Community Services NHS Trust from 1991 to 1994. Following the recommendations of the government report "Making London Better" (1993), it was transferred to City and East London Family and Community Services (CELFACS), reverting to the name "Mile End Hospital". On the division of CELFACS in 1994 the Hospital came under the management of Tower Hamlets Community Health Services NHS Trust with The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust continuing to occupy two wards at Mile End until 1997. Tower Hamlets Community Health Services NHS Trust was reconfigured in 2001 as Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust. The Trust was discontinued in 2013 and Mile End Hospital was incorporated into the newly formed Barts Health NHS Trust.