Care system NHS Website www.southend.nhs.uk Number of beds 737 | Emergency department Yes Phone +44 1702 435555 Founded 1888 | |
Location Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK Address Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0RY, UK Similar Basildon University Hospital, Spire Wellesley Hospital, Kingsley Ward Centre, Southend Borough Council, Castle Point Golf Course Profiles | ||
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS hospital located in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
In 1887, to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee, a public fund was started with the aim of building a hospital, and the site for Southend's first hospital was bought for £350 (in Warrior Square, near to Southend High Street). Built at a cost of £1,287 4s 6d, Southend Victoria Hospital was opened in May 1888. By Christmas, with eight beds and two cots, it had treated 61 patients at an average weekly cost of 4s 6d (22.5p).
Further building work began in 1930, and the new building was officially opened by the Rt. Hon Earl of Iveagh in 1932. In 1948, when the hospital was taken over by the Ministry of Health under the newly formed NHS, there were 24 consultants and 11 resident medical staff.
Southend Hospital now has 157 consultants providing various services, and serves a catchment area with a population of about 350,000. It has officially been designated cancer centre status, and has also gained Foundation Trust status under the name Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
In December 2013, chief executive Jacqueline Totterdell announced that the hospital was considering merging some functions with other local hospitals.
In June 2014, the Trust was described as having “one of the worst performing accident and emergency departments in the country”, which “repeatedly failed to consistently meet the national target of seeing most A&E patients within four hours, and ensure most wait less than 18 weeks for operations” by Monitor (NHS).
A joint pathology venture with Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Integrated Pathology Partnerships was set up in August 2014. A new laboratory will be built at Dobson House, in Bentalls, Basildon.
The Chief Executive Officer of the hospital is Sue Hardy, Medical Director is Neil Rothnie and Chairman of Consultant Staff Committee is Sohail Ansari.