Royal Infirmary, Sheffield

Administration

NHS17/1/1 Foundation, 1792 - 1797

NHS17/1/2 Board of Governors& apos; minutes, 1798 - 1938

NHS17/1/3 Board of Management minutes, 1938 - 1948

NHS17/1/4 Committee minutes, 1850 - 1980

NHS17/1/5 Annual reports, 1795 - 1948

NHS17/1/6 Rules, 1798 - 1904

NHS17/1/7 Trustees& apos; papers, 1792 - 1909

NHS17/1/8 Secretary& apos;s papers, 1828 - 1932

NHS17/1/9 Publicity and events, 1824 - 1971

NHS17/1/9/1 Newscuttings, 1893 - 1962

NHS17/1/9/2 Centenary celebrations, 1897

NHS17/1/9/3 3rd Jubilee celebrations, 1947

NHS17/1/9/4 Printed books and pamphlets, 1824 - 1971

NHS17/1/10 Photographs, c. 1900 - 1970

Land and Buildings

NHS17/2/1 Buildings: architect, 1792 - 1819

NHS17/2/2 Buildings: materials, 1793 - 1800

NHS17/2/3 Buildings: workforce, 1793 - 1802

NHS17/2/4 Buildings: extensions, 1842 - 1932

NHS17/2/5 Buildings: printed drawings, 1889 - 1909

NHS17/2/6 Insurance, 1811 - 1930

NHS17/2/7 Estate: purchases, 1799 - 1924

NHS17/2/8 Estate: sales, 1889 - 1963

NHS17/2/9 Estate: leases, 1834 - 1965

NHS17/2/10 Estate: rents, 1839 - 1854

NHS17/2/11 Estate: surveys and valuations, 1821 - 1827

NHS17/2/12 Roads, c. 1820 - 1911

Finance

NHS17/3/1 Accounts, 1793 - 1925

NHS17/3/2 Bank books, 1904 - 1937

NHS17/3/3 Subscriptions, 1792 - 1922

NHS17/3/4 Fundraising, 1797 - 1965

NHS17/3/5 Legacies, 1793 - 1943

NHS17/3/6 Overend Convalescent Fund, 1883 - 1922

NHS17/3/7 Investments, 1807 - 1950

Utilities, stores and equipment

NHS17/4/1 Water supply, 1874 - 1936

NHS17/4/2 Telephones, 1909 - 1970

NHS17/4/3 Inventories, 1800 - 1939

NHS17/4/4 Fixtures and fittings, 1797 - 1983

NHS17/4/5 Library, 1807 - 1986

NHS17/4/6 Printed catalogues, 1894 - 1931

Establishment

NHS17/5/1 Secretary, 1873 - 1907

NHS17/5/2 Treasurer, 1820 - 1890

NHS17/5/3 Medical staff: appointments and duties, 1797 - 1955

NHS17/5/4 Domestic staff, 1927

NHS17/5/5 Chaplain, 1910 - 1921

NHS17/5/6 Nursing and domestic staff general registers, 1897 - 1947

NHS17/5/7 Matron& apos;s nursing training registers, 1895 - 1948

NHS17/5/8 Registers of nurses, 1901 - 1944

NHS17/5/9 Post-certificate registers, 1901 - 1946

NHS17/5/10 Registers of affiliated nurses, 1932 - 1946

NHS17/5/11 Nurses& apos; training records, 1957 - 1974

NHS17/5/12 Sisters& apos; training records, 1950 - 1980

NHS17/5/13 State Enrolled Nurses& apos; training records, 1961 - 1971

NHS17/5/14 Miscellaneous nurses registers, 1947 - 1978

NHS17/5/15 Post graduate course, nurses& apos; register, 1958 - 1962

NHS17/5/16 Nursing examination books, 1930 - 1945

NHS17/5/17 Matron& apos;s meeting minutes, 1950 - 1970

NHS17/5/18 Matron& apos;s reports, 1950 - 1970

NHS17/5/19 Nurse training, 1922 - 1948

NHS17/5/20 Nursing rules, c. 1900 - 1960

NHS17/5/21 Nurse employment, 1914 - 1926

NHS17/5/22 Staff papers, 1841 - 1981

NHS17/5/23 League of Trained Nurses, 1932 - c. 1980

Patients

NHS17/6/1 Dr A. E. Barnes, physician: case papers: males, 1916, 1924 - 1930; females 1916, 1922 - 1930; children, 1924 - 1930

NHS17/6/2 Mr R. St Leger Brockman, surgeon: operation books, 1924 - 1933; case papers males and females, 1932 - 1947

NHS17/6/3 Dr H. P. Brody, physician: consultation register, 1953 - 1957

NHS17/6/4 Mr A. M. Connell, surgeon: operation books, 1920 - 1931; in-patient register, 1928 - 1932

NHS17/6/5 Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic: in-patients& apos; operations registers, 1944 - 1970; out-patients& apos; operation registers, 1945 - 1959

NHS17/6/6 Mr A. W. Fawcett, thoracic surgeon: male and femal case papers, 1931 - 1947; chest case papers, 1944 - 1947; out-patient registers, 1933 - 1958; female in-patient registers, 1953 - 1966; male in-patient registers, 1949 - 1962

NHS17/6/7 Mr W. J. Wellwood Ferguson, ophthalmic surgeon: applications for admission, 1931 - 1958; male and female case papers, 1932 - 1944; operations registers, 1937 - 1958; ward journals, 1928 - 1930; reports, 1927 - 1928

NHS17/6/8 Mr A. E. Finch: surgeon: out-patient registers, 1935 - 1944

NHS17/6/9 Dr A. R. Hallam, dermatologist: case papers, 1934 - 1944

NHS17/6/10 Professor R. P. Jepson, surgeon: out-patient registers, 1954 - 1958

NHS17/6/11 Mr Clifford Jones, surgeon: case papers, 1947; out-patient registers, 1955 - 1959; male in-patient registers, 1959 - 1963

NHS17/6/12 Dr A. W. Leishman, physician: out-patient register, 1955 - 1960

NHS17/6/13 Mr W. J. Lytle, surgeon: operations register, 1929; out-patient registers 1937 - 1959; in-patient registers, 1925 - 1958

NHS17/6/14 Professor E. Mellanby, physician: case papers, 1924 - 1927

NHS17/6/15 Professor D. S. Munro: in-patient register, 1973 - 1976

NHS17/6/16 Mr A. B. Nutt, ophthalmic surgeon: applications for admission, 1928 - 1951; case papers, 1932 - 1943; operations registers, 1928 - 1962; in-patient registers, 1928 - 1969; ward journals, 1928 - 1930

NHS17/6/17 Mr C. A. L. Palmer, surgeon: operations books, 1962 - 1969

NHS17/6/18 Mr A. Stanworth, surgeon: operations books, 1958 - 1969

NHS17/6/19 Dr R. Vickers, dermatologist: case papers, 1945 - 1948

NHS17/6/20 Dr R. Vickers and Dr I. B. Sneddon, dermatologists: case papers, 1950 - 1956

NHS17/6/21 Professor E. J. Wayne, physician: case papers, 1939 - 1947

NHS17/6/22 Dr A. G. Yates, physician (nervous diseases): case papers, 1913 - 1942

NHS17/6/23 Glass plates of skin conditions, mid 20th century

NHS17/6/24 Patients& apos; papers, 1929

Royal Infirmary and Hospital

NHS17/7/1 Foundation, 1938

NHS17/7/2 Court of Management, 1939 - 1948

NHS17/7/3 Committees, 1940 - 1944

NHS17/7/4 Medical Committee, 1939 - 1944

NHS17/7/5 Annual reports, 1944 - 1948

Godfrey Walker Convalescent Home

NHS17/8/1 Land and buildings, 1910 - 1939

NHS17/8/2 Administration, 1910 - 1914

NHS17/8/3 Finance, 1912 - 1913

NHS17/8/4 Correspondence, 1937 - 1942

Miscellanea

NHS17/9 Certificates of death, etc, c. 1831 - 1970

<span class="wrapper"><p>Nurses and Servants register, including resident medical staff, 1875 - 1950; medical order books, 1881 - 1930 (Acc. 2007/126)</p> <p>Trust deeds related to tithes, hospital endowment, 1797-1885 (SY357/X1-2)</p> <p>Copy of a statement on the housekeeping accounts from 1799 to 1804 (WC2331)</p> <p>Papers relating to Infirmary chaplaincy, 1856-1857 (CB1641/2)</p> <p>Programme for grand music festival for benefit of Sheffield General Infirmary, 1805 (SY473/Z8/1)</p> <p>Report on Sheffield General Infirmary, 1832-1833 (BC6/5)</p> <p>41st Report on General Infirmary, 1837-1838 (AM1605)</p> <p>Letter referring to building of House of Recovery for fever patients attached to Infirmary, 1839 (MD6790/1)</p> <p>Circular letter to President opposing increase in number of Medical Officers, 1857 (LC4/3)</p> <p>Charity accounts, 1885-1946 (SY614/K73/61)</p> <p>Papers re election of physician, 1876; centenary, 1897; exemption from general rate, 1900 (ACM/S/501/1)</p> <p>Photograph album with views of the Royal Infirmary: original block, Nurses&amp; apos; Home, New Building, 1900 (SY707/Z1)</p> <p>Programme for Christmas entertainment, 1910 (SY165/B8/3)</p> <p>Photocopies of papers about incorporation of the Royal Infirmary, 1933 (Acc. 2002/13)</p> <p>Nurse&amp; apos;s chart, 1938; certificate of efficiency, 1942; photograph of ward 3/4, 1938 (Acc. 2000/11)</p> <p>United Sheffield Hospitals, records 1948 - 1974 (NHS28)</p> <p>Chaplain&amp; apos;s report book 1922 - 1950 (NHS28/3/1/1)</p> <p>Sheffield Area Health Authority (Teaching), Southern District records, 1974 - 1978 (NHS31)</p> <p>&amp; apos;The History of Radiology and Radiography in the United Sheffield Hospitals&amp; apos; by W. H. J. Coombs, 1981 (Acc. 2005/88)</p> <p>Article about the Royal Infirmary bells, 1983-1984 (MD7031)</p></span>

Information in staff and patient records may be subject to access restrictions under the Data Protection Act, or may be subject to exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act. For further information please refer to a member of staff.

Prior to April 1986 the records previously numbered SY333 were held by the former South Yorkshire County Record Office.

The Ba numeration was that assigned to some documents formerly held by the University of Sheffield; these and other archives were gathered together by Dr Harold Swan, formerly consultant haematologist at the Royal Infirmary and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, whose valuable work in this is duly acknowledged.

General Infirmary, 4 October 1797 - 1897

Royal Infirmary, 1897 - 1980 (closed)

The establishment of an infirmary in Sheffield was first suggested in an anonymous letter written in 1789, but no further action was taken for three years.

Following a public meeting in April 1792, subscriptions amounting to £15,000 were collected, a site in Upperthorpe Meadows was purchased and on 4 September 1793 the first stone of the new building was laid. It was opened on 4 October 1797, with accommodation for around 100 in-patients. Its senior staff comprised three physicians (including William Younge to whom the anonymous letter was attributed and who served in post for 43 years), three surgeons and a matron.

The founders had been able to acquire a substantial site so space for expansion was assured: additions included the Norfolk Wing (1844), the Victoria Block (1872), octagonal out-patients and casualty building (1883), and the Centenary Nurses& apos; Home, ophthalmic wards and theatre (1897). Further additions and the creation of special departments followed in the 20th century. Radium treatment was first carried out in 1914, and the Radium Centre was established at the Infirmary in 1930.

During World War I 100 beds were offered to the War Office to serve as part of the 3rd Northern General Hospital. Service cases were again accommodated during World War II, along with air raid casualties.

From 1939 the Royal Infirmary was one unit in the merged Sheffield Royal Infirmary and Hospital and this continued until the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948 and the creation of the United Sheffield Hospitals.

The Royal Infirmary closed in 1980 when services were transferred and concentrated at the new Hallamshire Hospital. The last patient was discharged on 13 December 1980. The premises were finally vacated in December 1983 and the building was converted for office use.

Related establishments:

In 1910, Mrs Ellen Walker (later Lady Granger) donated & apos;The Priory& apos; at Conisbrough for use as a convalescent home for infirmary patients, to be known as & apos;The Godfrey Walker Convalescent Home& apos;. It closed in 1939.

Whiteley Wood Clinic, the premises of the former Rehabilitation Centre, opened in May 1958 as a unit of the University& apos;s new Department of Psychiatry, with close links to the Royal Infirmary.

Administration:

As a voluntary hospital, management was vested in a Board of Governors, who met weekly. Income was raised from subscriptions, donations and later, from a share of the Hospital Sundays funds.

By Act of Parliament, 1938, in force from 1 January 1939, the Royal Infirmary merged with the Royal Hospital to form the Royal Sheffield Infirmary and Hospital. Management was in the hands of a Court of Management, comprising a committee of up to 24 governors who met fortnightly. This continued until 1948, the Edgar Allen Physical Treatment Centre having joined the amalgamation in 1947.

At the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS) on 5 July 1948 (National Health Service Act, 1946), the Royal Infirmary and the Royal Hospital and the other former voluntary hospitals in Sheffield were brought together for administrative purposes into one group as The United Sheffield Hospitals (USH), managed by a Board of Governors.

The USH was abolished at the reorganisation of the NHS in 1974 when Sheffield Area Health Authority (Teaching) was established as one of the health areas within the new Trent Regional Health Authority. The Royal Infirmary was placed in the South (Teaching) District of SAHA. Following a redistricting exercise in summer 1978 when the three districts (North, Central and South) were formed into two, the Royal Infirmary was placed in the newly constituted Southern District.