1958: New Victoria Hospital is opened – the first voluntary after 1948

A photograph of a newspaper clipping. The title of the news story says, in large, bold letters: “They’ve bought a hospital.” The story says: “Miss Dorothy Woods (above) yesterday became the first matron of the first ‘private - enterprise’ hospital in Britain since the National Health Service began in 1948. The hospital is the New Victoria Hospital at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. It was opened yesterday by the Duchess of Sutherland. To buy and equip the hospital cost £30,000. This money was raised by contributions from all parts of the world. Part of the running costs of £12,000 a year will come from local collections. The hospital authorities hope that contributions from other parts of Britain will raise the rest. Apart from two private beds the hospital will be free to patients. And local doctors will work there without pay.” In this clipping, the word first is capitalised in both uses.
Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. Accessed via The British Newspaper Archive.

In 1949, the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board announced plans to merge the Kingston Victoria Hospital with the nearby Kingston General Hospital – the Victoria would cease to admit patients as an independent hospital and would instead become a gynaecological and maternity unit.

The Victoria’s doctors led a campaign opposing the conversion and a petition against the proposals received 11,000 signatures from amongst the local community. The campaign was unsuccessful.

Following the closure of the Victoria, the hospital’s doctors established a foundation (the Kingston and Malden Victoria Foundation) with the aim of raising funds to establish a new hospital (the New Victoria) in place of the recently closed hospital.

£35,000 was raised over seven years and the New Victoria was opened in 1958. It was the first and only voluntary hospital established after the founding of the NHS.

Reproduction of a leaflet about the Kingston and Malden Victoria Medical Foundation. The leaflet is black text printed on yellow paper. The leaflet has three panels. The left panel states "A new Hospital for you". The word you is underlined. The text continues "Will you help the Kingston & Malden Victoria Medical Foundation to open your New Hospital as soon as possible?". The second panel provides the address of the medical foundation. The third panel (the front cover of the leaflet) states in large bold letters "This concerns you". The word you is in capitals. Below it is a drawing of a hand pointing at the person reading the leaflet.
Front cover of leaflet regarding New Victoria Hospital, 1955. By permission of Kingston Heritage Service
Reproduction of a leaflet regarding the New Victoria Hospital. The leaflet is black text printed on bright yellow paper. It reads "One of the ways in which you can help. We invite the adult members of every household in the two Boroughs of Kingston and Malden to lend a hand, as the date of the establishment of the New Victoria Hospital draws near, by giving a regular contribution to the minimum rate of 3 shillings per week to our voluntary donors scheme. Many thousands in the district are already doing this. The Foundation's local authorised voluntary representative is Mrs W Williams who will shortly call on you in the hope of receiving your support. Here are the answers to some of your questions. 1) What is the object of the foundation? To replace the loss this district has sustained by the conversion of the former Kingston and Malden Victoria Hospital to other uses in June, 1951. 2) Why is this so important? Every district ought to have its local General Practitioner hospital. The loss of ours has had, and will have, a serious effect on our medical services. Waiting lists for hospital treatment here, as nearly everywhere, are far too long. Extensions being planned at local existing hospitals will not be completed for many years, and even then go little more than halfway towards meeting local needs. 3) Is the new Hospital in any sense in opposition to the National Health Service? Emphatically NO. The exact opposite is the case. The New Victoria Hospital will supplement and help (by providing additional accommodation and facilities) the services provided by the State. 4) Will Patients be attended by their own doctors in the new Hospital? Yes. The attendance on the patient by his own doctor (in collaboration with the appropriate Specialist, who will give his services free in the General Wards) is one of the most valuable amenities of the New Victoria Hospital which we intend to establish and preserve. 5) How will the running costs of the new Hospital be met? Mostly by very small regular contributions from interested people of the two boroughs of Kingston and Malden-Coombe. Additional income is already coming in from entertainments and from collecting boxes in shops, etc., from our Salvaged Goods Scheme and from many charitable people outside the district who are willing to subscribe to support the principles for which the Foundation stands. The bulk of the money, however, must come from the local small subscriber. Certain private Charitable Trusts also support us and local industry and commerce are giving generous help. 6) Will patients in the new Hospital be asked to pay? The same free treatment will be available as in the State-run hospitals. 7) Can the new Hospital be Nationalised and perhaps share the fate of the old "Victoria"? NO. There is no authority under the National Health Service Act 1946 to take over any hospital founded after the 5th July, 1948. 8) Is the Foundation in any way political? NO. The Foundation's sole object is to improve all LOCAL hospital services, here and elsewhere, and to help in all possible ways to heal the sick. In practice, people of all Parties are working for the early opening of the New Victoria Hospital and for its support." The leaflet ends here.
Inside leaflet regarding New Victoria Hospital, 1955. By permission of Kingston Heritage Service.