North London, or University College Hospital : a history of the hospital from its foundation to the year 1881 / by Newton H. Nixon.

  • Nixon, Newton H.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: North London, or University College Hospital : a history of the hospital from its foundation to the year 1881 / by Newton H. Nixon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    for extending the accommodation already provided. This will be the more readily understood when it is known that the principal district from which the bulk of the patients was received contained at that time 342,000 souls—a population not fluctuating, but continuously and rapidly increasing. A “ building fund ” was accordingly established, and a sub- scription at once headed by Henry Philip Hope, Esq., of Connaught Place, with a donation of £200. In this year a step was taken materially influencing the funds of the Hospital, not only at that particular time but in the future, by the adoption of the principle of holding Festival Dinners, as a means of appealing for contributions. The first dinner in aid of the funds was presided over by the Right Honourable Lord Brougham, the “appeal” realising a sum of £1,608—a result not only attributable to the eloquence of the illustrious Chairman, but to the great exertions of Isaac Lionel Goldsmid, Esq. From this method of appeal alone, the large sum of £55,860 has been received at 34 Festival Dinners. Apart from the great exertions of the committee to raise the income of the charity, the year 1835 did not close without the issue of an “appeal” setting forth the necessity for the for- mation of a “ society for the relief of such distresses of the patients as are not provided for by the Hospital.” A “ Benevolent Society ” was accordingly established with the above objects and placed under the charge of Mrs. Hunt, the Matron of the Hospital. Such an institution must be recognised as an invaluable adjunct to any general hospital for the sick poor. A “Patient’s Book Society” was also started under the Presidency of the Rev. H. Stebbing, D.D., F.R.S., the Chaplain of the Hospital, who continued his valuable services in both capacities until the year 1879, when he tendered his resignation owing to advancing years. 1837.—At the close of 1837 the committee of management had to face the question of at once increasing the accommoda- tion, as the centre building no longer afforded space for the number of patients seeking admission.