Kitchens, Royal Sussex County Hospital, 1930s

Photograph showing the kitchens, and the cook, in the basement of the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Original held in the collections at The Keep.

Physiotherapy gym, Royal Alexandra Hospital, 1920s

Photograph of the physiotherapy gym at The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital from an exquisite collection of silver gelatine prints, showing contemporary gym equipment and some of the young patients. Archived at The Keep.

Image courtesy of Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Women’s ward at Royal Sussex County Hospital, 1910s

Uniformed nurses and female patients at the women’s ward of Royal Sussex County Hospital in the decade before WW1. The original photograph is archived at The Keep.

World War I, soldiers, Royal Sussex County Hospital, circa 1914

Balconies on the south side of the main building were added in 1912-13, to provide patients with more opportunities to benefit from open air.

During the First and Second World Wars The balconies were used to house soldiers who had been injured. The hospital received its first group of 69 men in October 1914; a special Committee for Wounded Soldiers was established, which undertook the work of fixing uniforms and organising appeals for personal items such as games, writing paper and smoking paraphernalia.

While at the hospital, soldiers were often wheeled out onto the balconies so they could experience the fresh sea air.

Image courtesy of Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

X-Ray department, ward and theatres postcard, circa 1924

In 1920, a £2,000 grant was provided by the Joint War Committee of the Red Cross and Order of St. John, which contributed to the construction of a new Orthopaedic and X-Ray Department. Plans were drawn up by Cawthorn from 1922-3, and James Barnes & Sons were appointed contractors. Detailed drawings for the steel windows in the building were provided by Henry Hope & Sons of Smethwick.

The new department was comprised of converted rooms at the east end of the hospital, a new single storey brick building in the space between the Adelaide and Stewart Wings, which was to form the X-Ray department and a link to the main building.

The department was formally opened in December 1923 with orthopaedic equipment and new electro-cardiographic equipment installed.

Image courtesy of Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Overton Ward, circa 1912

Overton Ward was opened as part of the newly built Victoria Wing in June 1839, as part of the extension to the Barry Building. The interiors were plainly decorated with simple fireplaces and slender cast iron columns supporting the large open wards.

This early 20th century photograph (circa 1912) shows the ward, probably not much changed from when originally opened, and provides a good indication of the layout. The photo shows the original sash windows still in place, though new glass gas lamps and wooden floors had been installed. These teak and oak floorboards replaced earlier deal board floors and coconut matting and were installed in the 1890s. 

Image courtesy of Brighton & Sussex University NHS Hospitals Trust. 

Intensive Care Unit at Royal Sussex County Hospital, 1980

An image of Intensive Care in Thomas Kemp Tower from 1980. Thomas Kemp Tower was built in the 1960s, greatly increasing the hospital’s capacity. The structure towers over the original 19th century buildings, adding density and scale to the hospital’s development. 

The 1980s saw the first influx of patients into ICU with HIV, which was affecting and taking the lives of many young men in Brighton. In the 1980s, HIV infection had a high morbidity, sometimes leading to admission to ICU with very poor survival. Due to this, there was an early perception that admission to ICU was associated with a poor outcome for those with HIV infection.

Since the 1980s and into the 21st century, Royal Sussex County Hospital has pioneered care and treatment for people with HIV, developing an international reputation for care and research, becoming a leading centre for HIV care in the UK. 

Image courtesy of Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.