Homerton University Hospital - History

History

Several hospitals existed at Hackney prior to the present hospital at Homerton Row. Hackney’s first hospital was founded in 1280, called the Kingsland Leper Hospital and was one of ten leper hospitals set up in London. It was eventually closed in 1760. The Hackney Hospital known at various times as the workhouse infirmary and later as the Hackney Institute functioned at Homerton High Street between 1750 and 1995, before the services were transferred to the current hospital. The German Hospital functioned on on Dalston Road between 1845 and 1987. The Eastern Hospital, which was also known as the fever and small pox hospital ran at the site of where Homerton Hospital is today between 1870 and 1982. Mothers' Hospital which was started at Mare Street, Hackney in 1884 by the Salvation Army for the care of pregnant, unmarried women. It was closed in 1986 when Homerton Hospital opened and all the maternity and obstetric services were transferred.

The construction for present hospital began in 1982 and it opened its doors on Sunday, the 5th of July 1986. The hospital built at a cost of £20 million was inaugurated by the Princess Royal. Homerton became a separate trust in 1994 and has been in its present organisation as a foundation trust since 2004. The Trust is governed by a board elected from the membership; itself drawn from a wide area around the hospital.