Why do some hospitals have Royal in their names?

[corylus]

Where does this come from? Smaller hospitals often have 'Royal' as part of their title but larger teaching hospitals do not.

Any ideas?

[Sqad]

Royal London Hospital.

Sorry corylus.....I can't answer your question.

[coccinelle]

Could it be that they were opened by a royal? Just a thought....

[corylus]

For instance Royal Hospital for Sick Chidren Edinburgh, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but just Western General also in Edinburgh.

[ABerrant]

Usually indicating some form of royal patronage, such as sponsorship, usage, or creation by royal charter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Hospital

[Scylax]

Henry V111 dissolved the abbeys and replaced them with 6 endowed hospitals to serve the needs of (mainly) London. Among these were Christ's, St. Thomas',
Bridewell and Bethlehem Royal Hospital (Bedlam).

In later years other hospitals were built, and following the tradition, they also used the 'Royal' cachet for prestigious reasons. Some didn't because:
a) they were prestigious enough,or
b) they adopted a high-ranking title such as University

Of the former group, St. Bartholomew's (Barts) and St. Thomas' are examples. The University Hospital of Wales is an example of the latter.

Sunderland General Hospital changed its name to Sunderland Royal Hospital
when the ageing Sunderland Royal Infirmary was bulldozed. Nothing to do with royalty, but rather nice, don't you think ?

Interestingly, the original Christ's Hospital is now a famous public school,
Bridewell became a prison/workhouse and Bethlem Royal is now the Imperial War Museum.

[corylus]

Thanks for that Scylax, very enlightening.

[ABerrant]

A slight correction to that provided by Scylax:

The Royal hospitals Christ's, St. Thomas', Bridewell and Bethlehem were endowed by Henry's son Edward VI. Henry himself endowed St. Bartholomew's.

The sixth 'endowed hospital' is a later addition and not 'Royal' - Guy's was founded two centuries later by Thomas Guy, a Governor and benefactor of St. Thomas'.

[Eve]

Im not too sure what mine was when born, Copthorne in Shrewsbury I think as it became the Royal Shrewsbury (from Royal Salop closed on a different site) in 1979. I'm sure I can remember my mum saying though that Prince Charles came in, helicopter I think, to open the new maternity unit, I think when she was in having me, which was 1978.

[bazwillrun]

Princess Royal in Farnborough, previously know as the Farnborough hospital, still know as the Farnborough by most who use it and live anywhere near it.

Just up the road the Queen Marys Hospital, Sidcup,, previously known as Sidcup hospital, still called Sidcup hospital by most who use it and live anywhere near it.

why do people still use the old names ?..... because they are easier to remember and they are pretty specific as to which hospital is being referred to.

The renaming is yet another example of the pointless bureaucratic waste loved by governments and local councils alike.

Everybody knew exactly which and where these hospitals were so why waste money renaming them ?

[venator]

Even the staunchest Labour councils hang on to the Royal label - in Salford, after the old Salford Royal Hospital was turned into posh flats, they scrapped the name of Hope Hospital and recycled the Salford Royal name!

[Scylax]

Additional to ABerrant's answer: Bart's (St. Bartholomew's Hospital) was founded in the reign of Henry 1 (1123 AD) by the king's jester, Rahere, having
taken holy orders and becoming a priest. A favourite of the king and immensely wealthy, Rahere died in 1144. There is some controversy about his various roles
but it is certain that for a period he was a royal courtier.

[corylus]

Thanks everybody for your help, have been looking into this locally, hence my question, find that the 'Infirmary' here founded 1829 was just named an 'Infirmary,' but by 1916 was referred to as 'Royal Infirmary.' Can't find any reference as to why. Wondering if it was accorded 'Royal' status because of being required to treat wounded soldiers from WW1.
New hospital here opened 1967 by Harold Wilson, named as ' Royal Infirmary.' No mention of any royals being involved.