Maudsley Hospital

The Maudsley Hospital is a British psychiatric hospital in South London. The Maudsley is the largest mental health training institution in the country. The hospital's trust describes itself as a world leader in research and also works in partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.

History

The hospital is part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, provider of an extensive portfolio of mental health services in the United Kingdom, and a research institute working in partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.

The Maudsley dates from 1907, when Dr Henry Maudsley offered London County Council £30,000 (subsequently increased to £40,000) to help found a new mental hospital that would:

1. be exclusively for early and acute cases,
2. have an out-patients' clinic,
3. provide for teaching and research.

World War I intervened and the Hospital functioned as a war hospital, not actually opening as a mental health resource until 1923. It remains notable that a specific Act of Parliament had to be obtained (1915) to allow the institution to accept voluntary patients.

The Maudsley was returned to the control of London County Council some time after the First World War, and was finally opened in February 1923. Its nursing staff comprised a matron, assistant matron, six sisters and 19 staff nurses with at least three years' general hospital training, supported by 23 probationers and 12 male nurses. The...
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