Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital (QEMH) was a notable military hospital located in Woolwich, in southeast London, England. It was named after Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who officially opened the hospital on 16 March 1978. The hospital was managed by the British Army and provided medical services to both military personnel and civilians.

History

The Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital was built on the site of the former Royal Herbert Hospital, which had served as the primary military hospital in Woolwich since the 19th century. The QEMH was designed to replace the Royal Herbert Hospital and to provide modern medical facilities for the British Army.

The hospital was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on 16 March 1978. It was one of the largest military hospitals in the UK, with a capacity of over 500 beds. The hospital was equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and was staffed by a team of highly trained military and civilian medical professionals.

Services

The Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital provided a wide range of medical services, including surgery, internal medicine, orthopedics, and psychiatry. The hospital also had a specialist burns unit and a rehabilitation center for patients recovering from injuries and illnesses.

Closure

The Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital was closed in 1995 as part of the Defence Cost Study, a government initiative to reduce the cost of military healthcare. The hospital's services were transferred to the Royal London Hospital and other NHS hospitals in the area. The hospital building was subsequently demolished and the site is now home to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, a civilian NHS hospital.

Legacy

Despite its closure, the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital is remembered for its significant contribution to military healthcare in the UK. The hospital's former staff and patients have formed the QEMH Association, a group dedicated to preserving the memory of the hospital and its work.