Great Ormond Street Hospital, often nicknamed by its abbreviation GOSH, is a children’s hospital located in the central London Borough of Camden. It was formerly named the Hospital for Sick Children, and is now part of the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital has close association with University College London, the Institute of Child Health, and other research partners around the world, putting it at the forefront in the development of clinical treatments and techniques.
The hospital was founded in 1852, and was established as the first English hospital to offer inpatient beds specifically for children. The hospital is now an international centre of excellence in child healthcare, and boasts one of the largest centres for heart transplantation in the world. It is the largest hospital in the UK for paediatric neurosurgery, cancer services, renal care, and child intensive care, with children referred to the hospital from across the UK and from locations worldwide.
Travelling to Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital is found on the street of the very same name, Great Ormond Street. This is located in the Bloomsbury area of the London Borough of Camden, famous for its connections with literary history and cultural institutions. The main entrance for the hospital is located on Great Ormond Street, and the hospital is easily accessible thanks to its nearby connections with public transport.
The hospital is located near two London tube stations, namely Russell Square (Piccadilly Line) and Holborn (Piccadilly/Central Line). It takes roughly 7 minutes to walk to the hospital from either tube station, and walking maps are available on the GOSH website, designed by the hospital’s very own patients. If you are travelling by National Rail services, you can change to the underground from the nearby King’s Cross, London Euston, or Charing Cross.
Car parking at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Parking can be a little difficult in the immediate area surrounding the hospital, as Great Ormond Street Hospital is located in a Clean Air Zone, meaning drivers cannot leave their engines running for over a minute, and there is no pick up/drop off area at the hospital. If you wish to drive to the hospital, you will also have to pay a congestion charge to access the zone between 7am and 6pm (weekdays, excluding bank holidays).
Public transport is recommended, but there are car parks located in Russell Square, and the nearby Gloucester Street.
You can also travel by bus to get to GOSH, with bus routes 59, 68, 91, 168, 188, N91 and X68 stopping on the nearby Southampton Row.
Services provided at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital is the largest children’s hospital in the UK, offering over 63 different clinical specialties and the widest range of specialist paediatric services in one location. Many patients at GOSH are referred from other hospitals around the UK and a significant number of patients are referred from overseas. Great Ormond Street has its own International and Private Patients’ (IPP) wing, offering a high level of specialised paediatric care. With over 300 specialised consultants from a diverse background, multiple languages are spoken in the wing, and with access to multidisciplinary teams, GOSH are able to provide the best possible care for children and support the entire family.