From the First of April 1999, Frenchay Healthcare Trust merged with Southmead Healthcare Trust to Form
North Bristol NHS Trust
Frenchay Hospital began its life as a sanatorium for children with
tuberculosis. The mansion at Frenchay Park with 70 acres of land was bought by
the Bristol Corporation in 1921. Thirty five patients were cared for in the
mansion house (now the Trust's headquarters). By 1931, demand was growing and
two ward pavilions were built, and the beds extended to 100.
During the second World War, a series of single-storey brick buildings were
built to form an emergency medical services (EMS) hospital for the American
armed forces. These facilities included 15 new wards, a twin operating theatre,
a gym, a pharmacy and an isolation ward as well as several air raid shelters.
The Americans extended the hospital for the specialities of general surgery,
neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, thoracic surgery, ophthalmology,
maxillofacial and plastic surgery and urology. In 1948, when the National
Health Service was set up, five wards were given over to thoracic surgery; the
first regional speciality. Regional specialities were soon set up at Frenchay
for neurosurgery and plastic surgery. In the 1960s and 70s general specialities
were established at Frenchay and an accident centre built, which opened in
1967. In 1971 a purpose built unit was set up for children with spina bifida
and a neurological stroke and rehabilitation research unit established.
A major redevelopment programme got underway in the late 1980s, culminating
with the opening of Phase I, with 258 beds. The Hospital continues to develop,
refine and expand its services and facilities, ensuring it remains an
internationally recognised centre of excellence.
Children patients at Frenchay Hospital:
During 1995 a total of 2,327 seriously ill children were admitted to Frenchay
Hospital. They received treatment and care for a wide range of conditions and
problems, including life threatening burns injuries, neurological disorders and
head injuries. These children benefited from Frenchay's renowned expertise in
the areas of burns, plastic surgery and neurosurgery.
Frenchay Hospital is also the regional major trauma centre - its geographical
position close to intersecting motorways and its helicopter landing pad enable
children suffering major injuries to be brought quickly to the Accident Centre
to receive specialist treatment and care.
As the regional neurological paediatric centre, Frenchay Hospital's intensive
care unit is able to provide the highly skilled treatment desperately ill
children require. The Hospital takes in children patients from a large local
catchment area as well from the South West and further afield.
Frenchay Healthcare NHS Trust was established in 1992. Its mission describes
its key purpose: "By excellence in practice, the Trust aims to provide the
highest quality of health care for all."
The Trust comprises four hospitals:
Frenchay
Blackberry Hill
Cossham
Burden Neurological
- acute medical and surgical services - care of the elderly, mental illness -
respite and palliative care, physical disability base - neuropsychiatry.
Together the Hospitals have 938 beds. Also within the Trust are 10 health
centres and a base for community healthcare staff.
Key facts:
* Frenchay Healthcare NHS Trust provides care and treatment for around 600,000
patients a year, including those seen in the community
* The Trust has an income of £90 million a year
* It employs 4,500 staff
* The wide range of services for the local population include general medicine,
care of the elderly, general surgery and oral surgery. Breast Care services
cover the wider North and East Bristol area while other services, including
trauma surgery, neurosurgery and neurology, burns and plastic surgery, are
provided to patients from throughout the Bristol and district area,
Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bath and further afield.