The beginning: London General Hospital opens

LHSC's roots trace back to 1875 with the opening of London General Hospital on Ottoway Avenue, now South Street. From its earliest days, the hospital set a foundation for innovation and advanced care.

A teaching hospital from the start

LHSC's legacy as a teaching hospital began in 1882. Western University's Faculty of Medicine, then in a small frame house on St. James Street, grew rapidly, leading to expansions in 1887, 1921, and eventually relocating to the university campus in 1965. This early partnership laid the groundwork for LHSC's ongoing role as a leader in medical education.

One of Canada's first nursing schools

In 1883, London General Training School for Nurses opened with just three students who lived in the hospital until the first Nurses' Residence was built in 1905. After a fire, the Gartshore Nurses' Residence was rebuilt on South Street and officially opened in 1927. Nursing education in London transitioned to Fanshawe College in 1975 and became an integrated program with Western University in 2001.

Victoria Hospital is born

On November 16, 1899, thousands of Londoners gathered onto South Street to celebrate the grand opening of Victoria Hospital, an addition to London General Hospital. Named in honour of Queen Victoria's 60th year on the throne, Victoria Hospital occupied nearly an entire city block and its distinctive bell tower became a local landmark. An addition to the north side, completed in 1941, further expanded the facility.

A century of children's care

In 1900, the Children's Pavilion opened at Victoria Hospital, followed by the War Memorial Children's Hospital in 1923 made possible by the National Council of Women. In 1985, paediatric care moved to the Westminster site, becoming the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario (now known as Children's Hospital at LHSC).

Queen Alexandra Sanatorium: Treating tuberculosis in London

In the early 20th century, tuberculosis emerged as a serious health crisis and London responded with the Queen Alexandra Sanatorium, founded by Sir Adam Beck and the London Health Association. With space for 42 patients, the sanatorium served not only the City of London but also patients from Middlesex, St. Thomas, and Elgin County. Built on a high bluff overlooking the Thames River, the site at 600 Sanatorium Road is now home to the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI).

University Hospital opens

In September 1972, the London Health Association celebrated the official opening of University Hospital. It quickly gained national and global recognition as a leading hospital in neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and organ transplantation.

Westminster Hospital joins Victoria Hospital

The land that is now home to Victoria Hospital was originally the site of Westminster Hospital, which opened in 1918 as a military hospital. Initially established to treat veterans with mental illness following World War I, it was officially named Westminster Hospital in 1929 and expanded to provide medical and surgical care to ex-service members. The hospital expanded during World War II to treat the sick and injured from nearby training camps. After the war, the focus returned to long-term and acute care for veterans with disabilities. In 1977, Westminster Hospital merged with Victoria Hospital, transferring staff, patients, and 80 acres of land—now home to LHSC's Victoria Hospital site, including what is known today as E Zone.

London's hospitals merge

As health care evolved, so did London's hospitals. In 1995, London Health Sciences Centre was born, merging University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, and the Children's Hospital of South Western Ontario (now Children's Hospital at LHSC). This transformation ensured a more integrated, patient-centered approach to care, strengthening London's position as a leading medical hub for care, teaching, and research.

A bold vision for medical research

The Victoria Clinical Trials Centre is renamed London Health Sciences Centre Research Inc. and becomes a fully incorporated research institute overseeing all hospital-based research at London Health Sciences Centre sites: Victoria Hospital, University Hospital and South Street Hospital. This milestone set the stage for expanded research capabilities, eventually leading to the formation of Lawson Health Research Institute in partnership with St. Joseph's Health Care London in 2000.

Growth in cancer care and environmental stewardship

The London Regional Cancer Centre integrated with LHSC, becoming the London Regional Cancer Program, now known as the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre. LHSC also transferred 102 acres of the Western Counties Property to the City of London for conservation within the Westminster Ponds Environmentally Sensitive Area.

Adapting to meet community needs

To better reflect the current location of hospital services, LHSC adopted the site names South Street Hospital, University Hospital, and Victoria Hospital. That same year, the adult emergency department and inpatient beds for critical care, medicine, surgery, and cardiology patients were relocated from South Street Hospital to the new Victoria Hospital.

A new home for Children's Hospital

In 2011, LHSC celebrated the official opening of the new state-of-the-art 10-storey north tower at Victoria Hospital, which now houses Children's Hospital and the Grace Donnelly Women's Health Pavilion.

The closure of South Street Hospital

In 2013, the last patient care services at South Street Hospital were transferred to Victoria Hospital, marking the end of an era.

Strengthening care in the community

LHSC strengthened and further extended its provision of care in the community by opening the Kidney Care Centre in Westmount Shopping Centre. In 2014, LHSC also purchased the former Bethesda Centre at 54 Riverview Avenue, which became home to LHSC's Adult Eating Disorders Service, a partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA Middlesex), and LHSC's First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP). The Nazem Kadri Surgical Centre opened in 2020 as Ontario's first high-efficiency ambulatory surgical centre, further enhancing community-based care.

Rising to the challenge: The COVID-19 response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, LHSC adapted quickly to the evolving health crisis, prioritizing the safety of patients, staff, and the community. Through the rapid implementation of safety protocols, expanded capacity, and dedicated frontline care, LHSC played a critical role in the province's pandemic response. Beyond patient care, LHSC contributed to COVID-19 research, advancing knowledge on treatments and disease management. Working closely with health system partners across Ontario and Canada, LHSC provided support by receiving patient transfers from across the region, including as far away as Manitoba, ensuring those in need had access to life-saving care.

Launching LHSCRI

In 2024, LHSC launched its new research institute, London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI). Aligned with LHSC's specialized adult and paediatric care programs, LHSCRI builds on a legacy of innovation, advancing science with a direct impact on patient care in Ontario, Canada, and beyond.