| AdminHistory | The Birmingham Cripples Union & Royal Orthopaedic & Spinal Hospital (Amalgamated). Amalgamation 31 March 1925.
At this time the institution comprised the Royal Orthopaedic & Spinal Hospital in Newhall Street, central Birmingham, the Auxiliary Hospital at 42 Vicarage Road in Edgbaston, the Administrative Centre at 42-44 Islington Row, Woodlands Open Air Hospital and School for Children Bristol Road in Northfield and Forelands Open Air Convalescent Home and School for Children in Bromsgrove.
The merger between the two bodies officially took place on 31 March 1925 following many years of negotiation. The merger was born out of a pressing need for both organisations to expand, both in terms of physical accommodation and geographical area covered. The Ministry of Health and the Board of Education were involved in extending and improving the facilities and were prepared to co-operate to an increasing extent, which gave impetus to the two bodies' attempts to unite as one organisation.
The Broad Street Hospital (the old Children's Hospital) was purchased using £32,000 which the Royal Orthopaedic and Spinal Hospital had been given prior to amalgamation, to be used as the Outpatient Department. Substantial extensions to the site were opened by The Duchess of York. Alterations and extensions were opened at Forelands in 1931.
1928 saw the development of a scheme for providing orthopaedic treatment for Birmingham children in co-operation with the city authorities, which also required greater communication with the education authority. Belmont, a hostel for students undertaking a course in orthopaedic nursing and massage under the supervision of Matron Fanny Smith, was opened in 1929 with 20 students taking up residence. In 1932 there was an expansion of workshops and training schools to train and accommodate 16-30 year olds who were unable to find work due to disability.
Services were reorganized and both Broad Street and Forelands were closed in the early 1990s, with all services relocating to The Woodlands. A further battle lay ahead for Woodlands when closure and relocation to Selly Oak Hospital along with Birmingham Accident Hospital threatened the Hospital. However, the hospital achieved Trust status on its own merits. The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is now solely based at the Woodlands, Northfield site. |