Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a major National Health Service hospital located in Birmingham, England, and is part of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital is named after Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and is one of the largest and most advanced hospitals in the United Kingdom, providing a wide range of medical and surgical services to patients from across the West Midlands region, including Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Shropshire. The hospital has close ties with the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University, and is a major center for medical research and education, with collaborations with institutions such as the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, and the British Heart Foundation.

● History

The hospital was opened in 2010, replacing the old Selly Oak Hospital and Birmingham Accident Hospital, and was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales also in attendance. The hospital was built at a cost of over £545 million, with funding from the Department of Health and the European Investment Bank, and was designed by architects BDP and built by construction company Bovis Lend Lease. The hospital's design and construction involved input from a range of stakeholders, including NHS England, the Care Quality Commission, and the Royal College of Nursing, and has won several awards for its innovative design and sustainable features, including the Royal Institute of British Architects award and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method certification.

● Facilities

The hospital has a wide range of facilities, including over 1,200 beds, 30 operating theaters, and a state-of-the-art intensive care unit with equipment from companies such as General Electric and Siemens. The hospital also has a large emergency department with a separate entrance for ambulance services, including those from West Midlands Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance, and a helipad for air ambulance services, including those from Midlands Air Ambulance and Great North Air Ambulance. The hospital's facilities are equipped with the latest medical technology, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners from companies such as Philips Healthcare and Toshiba Medical Systems, and a linear accelerator for cancer treatment from companies such as Varian Medical Systems.

● Services

The hospital provides a wide range of medical and surgical services, including cardiothoracic surgery with surgeons from institutions such as the Papworth Hospital and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, neurosurgery with surgeons from institutions such as the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Institute of Neurological Sciences, and oncology with specialists from institutions such as the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and the Institute of Cancer Research. The hospital also has a large department of radiology with equipment from companies such as GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers, and a department of pathology with equipment from companies such as Roche Diagnostics and Abbott Laboratories. The hospital's services are supported by a range of organizations, including the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

● Notable_cases_and_patients

The hospital has treated many notable patients, including Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Tony Blair, and David Cameron, as well as patients from across the Commonwealth, including those from Australia, Canada, and South Africa. The hospital has also been involved in several high-profile cases, including the treatment of victims of the 2011 England riots and the 2013 UK floods, and has provided medical support to events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup. The hospital's staff have also been involved in a range of charitable activities, including work with organizations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, Oxfam, and the British Red Cross.

● Controversies_and_criticisms

The hospital has been the subject of several controversies and criticisms, including concerns over patient safety and infection control, with investigations by organizations such as the Care Quality Commission and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The hospital has also faced criticism over its handling of complaints and incident reporting, with reviews by organizations such as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Healthcare Commission. Despite these challenges, the hospital remains one of the leading healthcare providers in the United Kingdom, with a strong reputation for innovation and excellence, and collaborations with institutions such as the National Institute for Health Research, the Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust. Category:Hospitals in England