For 165 years, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has been at the forefront of paediatric medicine. Today, on the hospital's birthday, we take a closer look at just some of the many landmarks in our famous hospital's history, as well as the pivotal characters who made them happen...
Humble beginnings
Public health in 19th century Britain was a nightmare with no end. Mass poverty, poor living conditions, and extremely limited state help left Britain’s children the most at risk. Nearly a quarter were dying before the age of two, a third by the age of 10.
In 1852, something happened which would change the course of global paediatric healthcare…
In an ornate but modestly sized terraced house north of Holborn, Dr Charles West founded the Hospital for Sick Children on Great Ormond Street. Initially home to just 10 beds and two clinical staff, the hospital was both the city and the country’s first specialist medical institution for children.

Dr Charles West
Dr West was a paediatric pioneer. He wrote and lectured widely, building up a reputation that allowed him, after an exhaustive campaign, to gather the necessary support to purchase 49 Great Ormond Street. He remained at the hospital for 23 years and is rightly remembered as a vital figure in its foundation.
The year the hospital was founded, Charles Dickens visited Great Ormond Street. A long-standing campaigner for improving the living standards of the poorest in society, Dickens – who lived next door to GOSH doctor William Jenner – was spellbound by his visit.
"A sick child is a contradiction of ideas, like a cold summer."
Dickens understood the potential for a close bond between public and institution that would allow the hospital to thrive. A parent himself, he believed that any mother or father would understand the value of GOSH, and that this empathy would see the British people support the fledgling hospital.
“Its way to the general sympathy and aid, lies through one of the broadest doors into the general heart," he said, "and that heart is a great and tender one, and will receive it.”
Find out more about the pivotal characters who helped shape Great Ormond Street Hospital's history.
Vital support
We could not hope to achieve amazing results for children without the hard work and help of so many people. From talented clinicians and famous faces, to our incredible team of fundraisers and volunteers, there are thousands of people, past and present, who have dedicated their efforts to the survival and success of GOSH.
JM Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, was a long-term supporter of GOSH. While he and his wife never had children, Barrie later unexpectedly became the guardian of three boys – George, Jack and Peter. He raised them as his own, and they are widely understood as the inspiration for Peter Pan.
In 1929, Barrie declined a role on a committee of hospital supporters. Instead, he announced the most extraordinary gift – the donation of the copyright for Peter Pan, to help fund the hospital and be held in perpetuity. That Christmas, Barrie suggested that a troupe of actors perform the famous nursery scene for patients – a festive performance that became a GOSH tradition.
Today, Barrie’s legacy is visible throughout the hospital – in his words, his gift to the hospital, and a statue of Peter himself.
Being next door to Neverland may lend GOSH a touch of fairy tale magic, but in its time, GOSH has welcomed princesses. Diana, Princess of Wales, was President of the hospital from 1989 until her death. Over 50 years earlier, Princess Tsahai, daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia, chose to train and work as a nurse at GOSH following the invasion of her home country by Mussolini’s Italy. She was inspired by her time at GOSH and returned home intent on revolutionising child health. Tragically, she passed away in 1942, aged just 24.
GOSH began its connections with royalty early in its history. Some of the hospital’s earliest doctors took on extravagant job titles as the trusted surgeons and physicians of the royal family, including the infant Princess Elizabeth. To this day, Queen Elizabeth II – the longest serving monarch in British history – remains a patron of GOSH. She first visited in 1952, shortly after her accession to the throne. She became a patron in 1965, taking up the mantle from her aunt, Queen Mary, who had trained as a nurse at the hospital. The Queen has visited GOSH many times during her reign – most recently as part of her unforgettable Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
However, throughout the history of this extraordinary place, it's the support of you, the public, that has enabled the hospital to give seriously ill children the chance for a better future. You have helped to fund groundbreaking research, advanced equipment, child and family support services, and the rebuilding of wards and facilities. Your support remains as vital as it has ever been.