West London Hospital

51°29′36″N 0°13′20″W / 51.49321°N 0.22210°W / 51.49321; -0.22210HistoryOpened1856Closed1993LinksListsHospitals in England

The West London Hospital was founded in 1856 as the Fulham and Hammersmith General Dispensary, which was housed in a small 6-roomed building in Queen Street, Hammersmith. It catered for acute conditions and later for geriatric, maternity, rehabilitation and long-stay conditions.

Increasing demand led to the leasing of larger premises of Elm Tree House in Hammersmith Road in 1860.^[1] At this time it began to admit in-patients, mainly victims of industrial accidents.^[1] In 1863 it was renamed the West London Hospital.^[1] It was granted a royal charter on 1 November 1894.^[2] During the First World War its 36 beds were reserved for sick and wounded servicemen.^[1]

In February 1925 Princess Mary opened a new wing financed by Dan Mason.^[1] This had an accident ward of 16 beds, separate cancer wards for male and female patients, each with 7 beds, 26 rooms for private patients and 2 operating theatres. Private patients were charged 5 guineas (£5.25) a week for a single room and 4 guineas (£4.20) for a double room.^[1] In 1937 a new block on the eastern corner of the Hospital was added - the Silver Jubilee Extension - and was officially opened by Queen Mary.^[1]

The hospital's accident and emergency department closed in the 1970s when Charing Cross Hospital moved from central London to new premises on Fulham Palace Road.^[1] In 1993 its remaining services were moved to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on Fulham Road.^[1] The building was sold and refurbished as offices and named Saunders House.^[1] The facade is listed and has been preserved. Sony Ericsson currently rents the building now renamed Sony Ericsson House. The freehold is owned by a Middle Eastern investor.^[1]