Whipps Cross University Hospital

Whipps Cross University Hospital is an NHS-run University Hospital in Leytonstone, North-east London, which housed London's first Hyperbaric Unit. London South Bank University's East London Faculty of Health campus is at Whipps Cross.

Whipps Cross University hospital is geographically close to the site of the 2012 Olympics, has one of the largest and busiest A&E departments in the UK and serves a diverse community from Chigwell to Leyton.

An infirmary was built on 44 acres of grounds at Whipps Cross for the Leytonstone Workhouse. Construction started in 1900 and was completed in 1903.

When it opened the infirmary provided 672 beds in 24 wards in four awe-inspiring symmetrical blocks with tiered covered walkways and two massive towers. The buildings cost £186,000 to construct, which was criticised as extravagant.

By the end of the Great War in 1918 the infirmary had started to become a general hospital and the name was changed to Whipps Cross Hospital.

A redevelopment of the site planned for 2012 has now been abandoned after the withdrawal of one potential PFI partner. Subsequent plans to redevelop the hospital in stages has also been put on hold whilst financial turnaround is in progress.

As of Summer 2006 the hospital is undergoing a Turnaround process designed to head off a projected £40 million deficit. The turnaround team is headed by an external consultant and is expected to take up to three years to bring the hospital back to financial viability. Around 450 jobs are expected to be lost including nurses, doctors, administrators and managers.

Unrelated to the financial situation faced by the hospital, a review of the North East London health economy has cast doubts over the future of the hospital and / or neighbouring King George Hospital when the newly upgraded Oldchurch hospital is complete. It is not clear if the work of the turnaround team will place the hospital in a better or worse position for the next review as it is not yet clear which services might be required on a smaller and more acute site into the future.

Notably, standards in training have dropped so dramatically over recent years that the hospital's Medical Education Center misspells the word 'lumbar' on its website.

The hospital has its own radio service, Whipps Cross Hospital Radio, a registered charity founded in 1969 by the Walthamstow Lions club to provide entertainment and information to the patients and staff. The station has been broadcasting 24 hours a day since 2004. Former presenters have included Chris Searle and Annabel Port who went on to Virgin Radio. The current Station Director is Phil Hughes. Central to the programming on the station is the daily request show, hosted by a variety of presenters including long-standing host Ian Betteridge. During the football season there are often live commentaries from West Ham home matches as well as a general sports round-up, in addition to a weekly sports magazine programme on Sunday afternoon. Local news is well-served and a national news bulletin is provided by Independent Radio News.

The layout of the Hospital is interesting to note - the hospital is divided into 6 different coloured zones Red, Orange, Pink, Green, Purple and Yellow. Orange zone is the oldest part of the hospital and is where some wards are located, the dental zone and the main entrance. The Red zone locates the A & E unit (now referred to as the EUCC), plus hospital shops, offices and restaurant. The Pink Zone located wards. The Green zone locates wards as well as the Willow Lodge (Library for staff) and the hyberaic unit. The Yellow zone holds wards, physiotherapy and the outpatients department. The Purple zone is maternity - ante-natal and post natal.

Notable births

 * David Beckham
 * Graham Gooch
 * Jonathan Ross
 * Owen Evans
 * Richard Ayoade
 * Christopher Watson