University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street celebrates 10 years

Colleagues, past and present, came together to mark the tenth anniversary of University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street.

Chief executive David Probert, Geoff Bellingan, medical director, and Natalie Holbery, deputy chief nurse, and Lois Roberts, divisional manager for cancer services, and Professor John Kelly gave speeches, alongside former UCLH colleagues who helped shape the site as it is today, including Martin Hayward, clinical lead of thoracics in 2015 when UCLH took over the building.

While the hospital in its current form celebrates a decade in operation, the site at Westmoreland Street has a much longer history as the Heart Hospital.  

After becoming a private institution in 1994, the Heart Hospital re-joined the NHS in 2001 when it was bought by UCLH. It became home to UCLH's cardiac services until these were transferred to Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in 2015. 

Since then, University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street has become a surgical hub within the organisation, providing urology services and thoracic surgery. 

David Probert said: “Although we are celebrating 10 years of a building, it’s the people that make that building what it is. That’s testament to all of you, and the work that you do. Westmoreland Street is an important site for us, and so I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of you.” 

Geoff Bellingan said: “A warm welcome back to lots of faces who have helped shape this building and make it what it is today – a place that changes lives and, I’m sure, has changed your lives too. A huge thank you to all of you for making this hospital such a home at UCLH.” 

Martin Hayward, former thoracic surgeon and clinical lead of thoracics, said: “When you know which football team the front desk staff support, when you know the family names of the portering staff, that’s when you know that this is a family-like hospital. Everybody here is invested in the performance of this hospital and the results it produces for its patients.” 

Thanks to the UCLH Charity Cancer Fund for their generous support of the celebration event, including commemorative badges and tote bags.