Our history

The hospitals and health centres that make up St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have a rich history dating back to the opening of the original St George’s Hospital on Hyde Park Corner in 1733.

You can read more about the history behind the trust’s hospitals, health centres and wards in our past and present section.

A brief history

Year	Event
1733	The original St George’s Hospital opens at Lanesborough House, now the Lanesborough Hotel, on Hyde Park Corner.
1868	St George’s Hospital Medical School established at the hospital.
1869	The Atkinson Morley Hospital opens in Wimbledon.
1948	The National Health Service is established.
1954	The Grove Fever Hospital and Fountain Hospital in Tooting become part of the St George’s Group.
1973	Building of the new St George’s Hospital in Tooting begins on the Grove Fever Hospital site.
1976	St George’s Hospital Medical School moves to the new Tooting site and hospital services begin to transfer from Hyde Park Corner.
1980	St George’s at Hyde Park Corner formally closes in June, with Her Majesty the Queen officially opening the Tooting site in November.
1984	Jenner Wing opens.
1988	St James Wing opens following closure of the St James Hospital in Balham.
1993	St George’s Group becomes St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust.
2003	Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon closes, with services moving into the new Atkinson Morley Wing at St George’s Hospital.
2009	St George’s Healthcare named as large trust of the year by Dr Foster, and the Grosvenor Wing refurbishment is completed.
2010	St George’s Healthcare becomes one of four major trauma centres and one of eight hyper-acute stroke units for London. The trust merges with Community Services Wandsworth, becoming responsible for services based at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton, and health centres, GP practices, schools and nurseries in Wandsworth, and healthcare for offenders at HMP Wandsworth.
2012	The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre in Wimbledon closes, with services moving to St George’s Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital.
2013	Redeveloped emergency department opens at St George’s Hospital, and work starts on new helipad above St James Wing.
2015	St George’s Healthcare becomes a Foundation Trust.
2022	St George’s Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Health Group is formed.