Leicester Royal Infirmary

Foundation of the Leicester Infirmary 

The Leicester Infirmary was established in 1771 after a successful campaign led by Dr William Watts. Fundraising meetings were held in the Three Cranes pub in Humberstone Gate. When the hospital opened, it had just 40 beds, a surgeon, matron, two nurses, a laundry maid, labourer, porter and cook. Nurses had to live in the hospital and have no children. Fully trained nurses were not employed in the hospital until the 1860s. 

The Children’s Hospital 

In 1889 HRH Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s daughter, opened a new Children’s Hospital wing. The waste land around the wing was planted with flower beds and lawns by Leicester Borough Council’s Parks Department. At the back of the building there was a terrace where the children could play. Members of the public donated money for cots, toys and slippers. In 1914 the Children’s Hospital was rebuilt and made bigger and a ‘shilling fund’ paid for 70 new cots. 

Children and nurses at the outside shelter in 1907, The Collection of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

The Infirmary becomes a Royal Institution  

In 1902 the new Victoria Wing was opened. It was paid for by a fund to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.  It was built on the front of the original hospital but has since been demolished. In 1912 King George V gave Royal status to the Infirmary. Until 1948 the Infirmary was a charity with fundraising events to raise money to keep the hospital running. Events included sport days and even potato growing competitions.  On the 5th July 1948 the Infirmary became part of the new National Health Service. 

Today, Leicester Royal Infirmary has 1000 beds and employs over 15,000 members of staff. It provides Leicester’s accident and emergency department and is part of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.