Birmingham and Midland Free hospital opened in Steelhouse
Lane. In the first month, January, just 2 children were admitted.
In February 16 children were admitted - filling all of the
16 beds the hospital had.
1869
A new outpatients department was constructed on the
corner of Upper Priory and Steelhouse Lane to expand services
for the ever increasing number of outpatients
1877
The construction of an isolation block was completed
in Broad Street. The block consisted of two six-bedded scarlet
fever wards, and a four-bedded diphtheria ward.
1907
It was obvious that the children's hospital had outgrown
its premises so the governors resolved to build a completely
new hospital. A promising 2 1/2 acre site was found in Ladywood
Road, and an appeal launched to raise funds to build a new
hospital.
1913
The foundation stone at the Ladywood site was laid
by HRH Princess Louise first, Duchess of Argyll.
1914
World War I frustrated plans for the new building at Ladywood.
1917
The first outpatients finally arrived on Christmas Eve to
late occupancy of a partially completed building.
1919
On 21st May King George V and Queen Mary visited the new hospital
and toured the wards for an hour. Their majesties, by all
accounts, were most impressed.
1926
Birmingham Children's Hospital became the 1st hospital to
treat a child with rickets by administering cholesterol to
supply the necessary vitamins.
1937
The first stone of a new Babies Block was laid. As babies
could not be taken into the main wards because of the risk
of infection, the building of a Babies Block was a necessity.
1941
The Babies Block was finally completed as construction had
been slowed due to World War II. It was officially christened
the Leonard Parsons block after the physician who had worked
at the hospital since 1910.
1946
Leonard Parsons retired from Birmingham Children's Hospital
and was knighted for his contribution to paediatric medicine.
1948
The NHS Trust was established and the Children's Hospital
became part of the Teaching Group of Birmingham United Hospitals.
1957
Demands for a new hospital began as the Sanatorium type hospital
was no longer suitable for the complex medical services of
the second half of the twentieth century.
1998
More than 130 years later the hospital returned to the site
of its first home in Steelhouse Lane. The relocation into
the former General Hospital has built a foundation for the
hospital to be the leading centre of excellence in the provision
of child healthcare, both in the hospital and in the community.
1999
The Trust was chosen to manage the city-wide Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Service, drawing together diverse services from
four other city NHS Trusts 2000 Following a national review
of cleft lip and palate disorders in the West Midlands, the
first regional centre to be chosen in England and Wales.
2001
The Children's Hospital became the 'hub' service for paediatric
burns for the West Midlands.
