Help us celebrate 100 years being 'Royal'
Have you ever worked at Leicester Royal Infirmary? If so, we want to hear from you.
Local MP (and later Prime Minister) Ramsay MacDonald petitioned King George V to grant the hospital Royal status. This was to recognise the contribution the Infirmary was making to the health of its population. On 22nd June 1912, permission to use the Royal prefix was granted by the King and the Leicester Infirmary became the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Since it opened in 1771, Leicester's Infirmary has occupied a vital place at the heart of the local community, providing care from cradle to grave.
In the very first years of its operation, the Infirmary had just 40 beds and only a small number of staff. Common treatments at the time included blood letting, treatment with mercury and laudanum, amputation and the application of medicinal compresses.
As well as supervising the nurses our first matron, Susannah Andrews, made all of the hospital's sheets and bread and was even put in charge of looking after a couple of pigs!
By the turn of the 20th Century, the Infirmary had expanded to a large 300 bedded hospital and had pioneered nurse training and the state registration of nurses as well as introducing new medical techniques and procedures.
In April 2000 Leicester's three hospitals were merged to create University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Today, as one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, we see over a million patients a year and employ over 10,000 people at the Royal Infirmary, the General and Glenfield Hospital.
To mark this historic milestone Leicester's Hospitals chairman, Martin Hindle, is calling on the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to share their experiences of working at the Royal Infirmary.
He said: "Plans are afoot to celebrate this centenary in style and this is where we need your help. Have you ever worked at the Royal Infirmary? Do you have any memories, stories or anecdotes about your experiences at the hospital that you'd like to share with others? We really want to delve into the history of the hospital and feel the best way to do this is use your experiences and share the many special memories so many people have."
If you are a former member of staff from the Royal Infirmary who would like to share their work memories, please contact us. We are also searching for patients who were cared for at the Royal Infirmary over the last century so we can compare how healthcare was delivered and how different things are now.
If you would like to get involved please contact communications by emailing: communications@uhl-tr.nhs.uk or calling: 0116 258 8685.
royal infirmary
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