Central London Ophthalmic Hospital Explained

Central London Ophthalmic Hospital
Location:	Gray's Inn Road
Region:	London
Country:	England
Coordinates:	51.5262°N -0.1241°W
Type:	Specialist
Speciality:	Ophthalmology
Founded:	1843
Map Type:	United Kingdom London Camden

Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, London was a hospital in Gray's Inn Road, London.^{[1] [2]}

History

Originally the hospital was opened in 1843 as Central London Ophthalmic Institution in a house near to Brunswick Square.^[3] In 1848 it moved to 238a Gray's Inn Road, was renamed as the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital and had 12 beds. By 1900 the hospital was overcrowded and an extension was built giving the facility 28 beds. It was decided to rebuild and in 1913 the Duchess of Albany opened the new hospital at 41 Judd Street, London. Eventually the hospital had 40 beds, and during the First World War cared for service men. In 1947 the hospital amalgamated with the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital and the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital and was renamed as the Central Branch of the Moorfields, Westminster and Central Eye Hospital. Following the creation of the NHS it became to the Institute of Ophthalmology, and is now situated near to Moorfields.

Notable staff

Two matrons of the eye hospital had both worked and trained at The London Hospital, Whitechapel, London under Eva Luckes:

• Stella Weston (1867–1945), Matron 1906–1907.^[4] Weston trained between 1897 and 1899.^[5] Weston was then Matron of the Hospital for Epilepsy and Paralysis, Maida Vale, for over twenty three years.^[6]
• Annie Marsden (1871–1939) Matron 1907–1927.^{[7] [8]} Marsden trained between 1897 and 1899.^[9]

Notes and References

1. 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 A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)
2. Web site: 16 December 2023 . Central London Ophthalmic Hospital . 16 December 2023 . Lost Hospitals of London.
3. 7 May 1927 . Central London Ophthalmic Hospital . . 539 . www.rcn.org.uk.
4. 23 June 1906 . Appointments . . 36 . 504.
5. Rose Stella Weston, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/6, 84; RLHLH/N/1/5, 132; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
6. Web site: Maida Vale Hospital: Application papers of Rose Stella Weston for the post of Matron. University College London Archives. 16 December 2023.
7. Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.14, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.14, March 1907, 24; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
8. 20 April 1907 . Appointments . . 3 . 352 . www.rcn.org.
9. Annie Marsden, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/6, 5; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London