London Jewish Hospital

[Elliebean54]

Hi everyone

I wonder if anyone has any information about the London Jewish Hospital? Or where I can find any records?

I’ve unearthed a bit of a mystery - my mother’s older sister died there as a child in 1936. The biggest mystery is why she was there instead of the nearby London Hospital used by the rest of the family? My family were not Jewish though they lived in the East End and many of their closest friends and neighbours were. I’ve tried googling it and it seems it was specifically built to serve the local Jewish community so any ideas why a non Jewish child would end up there?

[Girl Guide]

A bit of information about the hospital

https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/londonjewish.html

Perhaps the Jewish hospital had the necessary skills for your aunt's condition.  Maybe the nearby London Hospital was full at the time?

[Girl Guide]

You could try checking the catalogue of the London Metropolitan Archives to see what they have on the hospital.

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/london-metropolitan-archives

They are closed at the moment.

[Milliepede]

Maybe she needed some treatment that was paid for? 

[Mowsehowse]

Perhaps the cause of death would give some clues?

[Elliebean54]

Thank you everyone for your replies and the links.

I’ve spoken to my mother and she knows no family history related to what hospital she was in. We know how she died though - she fractured her leg falling on the stairs. No one realised it was broken she carried on walking on it and it the bone became inflamed and infected. It was chronic not acute, family visited her in hospital. They were the poorest of the poor I don’t see choice coming into it?

I have though found out there was a full inquest into her death which my mother also didn’t know (verdict -accidental) so the coroner’s report might have a more complete story

Thanks again for your replies

[LizzieW]

Remember this was before the NHS was formed, so it might be that the Jewish Hospital was cheaper or even took in poor people for free - I know many of these hospitals (including one in Manchester) was run by volunteers with donations from wealthy Jewish people.

My gran who died in 1952 (after the NHS was started) was treated in the Jewish Hospital in Manchester which had been absorbed into the NHS.  In her case, it was probably nearer to her home than any of the other Manchester Hospitals.