St Leonard's Hospital is a hospital in Hoxton, London.

History The hospital was founded as the infirmary for the St Leonard’s Shoreditch Workhouse in 1777. It was known as St Leonard's Infirmary. The workhouse was rebuilt between 1863 and 1866 and the infirmary was rebuilt in 1872. It had become known as St Leonard's Hospital by 1920 and came under the management of London County Council in 1930.

At the time of transfer to the London County Council the hospital had 571 beds and Medical Superintendent was TJ Keller MB BCh BA and the Steward was F C Yates. M Pilkington SRN (State Registered Nurse) was Matron having succeeded Inglis in 1928. Pilkington undertook her nurse training at the Nose Throat and Ear Hospital Birmingham.

It was the first hospital to receive casualties during the Blitz and then joined the National Health Service in 1948.

Although the hospital was the subject of a workers’ occupation aiming to keep the hospital open in July 1984, it ceased to operate as a general hospital later that year. Nevertheless the building continues to provide services on behalf of Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Notable staff

Joanna (also known as Joan) Inglis, (1863–1958), Matron 1902- until at least 1928.Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)Inglis, Joanna, Register of Nurses, General Part–1928, 17; The General Nursing Council for England and Wales; The Nursing Registers, 1898–1968 [Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed on 1 December 2017]. Inglis trained at The London Hospital under Matron Eva Luckes between 1892-1894.Joanna Inglis, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/4, 34; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London After her training she worked as a staff nurse before moving on for promotion.Joanna Inglis, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/1, 149; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London She was a member of the County and County Borough Matrons Association, and also Treasurer of the Poor Law Infirmary Matrons Association. During her time as matron, Inglis significantly improved nursing and nurse training at the hospital and thereby contributed to the professionalisation of Poor Law Nursing. Edith Cavell served as Assistant Matron at the hospital from 1903 to 1906. Cavell had also trained at The London Hospital.

See also List of hospitals in England

References