The History of Orpington Hospital

Orpington Hospital is a hospital located in Orpington, in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is managed by the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital has its origins in the Orpington Cottage Hospital, which was built in 1890. This was replaced by a new hospital on the same site in 1907. The new hospital had 36 beds and cost £6,000 to build. It was opened by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. During the First World War, the hospital was used as a military hospital. In 1918, it had 24 beds for wounded soldiers and six beds for officers. After the war, it returned to being a cottage hospital. In 1948, the National Health Service was established and the hospital became part of it. In 1950, a new maternity unit was opened at the hospital. In 1960, a new out-patient department was opened and in 1961 a new x-ray department was added. In 1974, Orpington Hospital became part of Kent Area Health Authority and then South East Thames Regional Health Authority following reorganisa...