Lytham Hospital - +44 (0) 1253 303953

Lytham Hospital, instituted for the relief of the poor when suffering from sickness or accident, was first opened in 1871, funded by Colonel John Talbot Clifton, Squire of Lytham at an original cost of £1,200.Lytham Hospital 1871–1948The original building was a two-storey structure with four wards containing 16 beds. There was an operating room for “cases of a severe nature”. A mortuary was located in the yard. Details of the original building are available online in a reproduction of a contemporary newspaper articleThe running of the hospital was originally funded by monies raised by the local community. There is evidence of charitable contributions to support the hospital. In 1734 Elizabeth Layland left £60 for the poor or the education of children, income being derived from a piece of meadow in Freckleton, named Hanning's land. Records show that £2 2s. was given to the cottage hospital each year.The hospital was enlarged in 1882–83 at a cost £700. There were then 25 beds, some of which were made available for patients outside a five miles radius of Lytham for a fee of 12s. 6d. per week. A new ward, in memory of Dr. L. Fisher, was subscribed for, and several additions and alterations were at a cost of £600.Development work was performed in the 1920s, evidenced by the inclusion of a time capsule in the building that contains artifacts from that time. This was recently unearthed during demolition of the original building,Reproductions of original news articles are available online There are also a nice postcards depicting the hospitalThe NHS years 1948–2006Following transfer to the National Health Service in 1948, the hospital expanded in size and capacity to offer more services to the community. At the time of NHS transfer, the Governors and Trustees of the Hospital formed a Hospital League of Friends which continued to raise funds to support the work of the hospital.The hospital was mainly for acute services and offered a maternity service. A new wing containing additional wards was later constructed.

Tags: Hospital/Clinic