Some of the adventures I have recounted in recent months happened while I was on the Consultant staff of The Middlesex Hospital in London (1973-86). You may wonder about the name, which could be misunderstood.
It was called The Middlesex because it was in the County of Middlesex, now part of the city of London. It was recorded in 704 as Middleseaxon, the territory of the “middle Saxons”, and is derived from old english “middel” and “seaxe” (the seaxe being a kind of knife). The “Middle” makes more sense when you know that there are other surrounding areas called Essex, Sussex and Wessex, which unsurprisingly are east, south and west of Middlesex. I wonder what happened to “Northex/Norsex”?
There was (and is) a North Middlesex Hospital, and indeed West and Central Middlesex Hospitals, wherein lies another confusion. You might think that “The Central Middlesex” would be in the center of London, but not so, a fact that caused trouble for one of my would-be trainees from overseas. He turned up there by mistake, assuming it to be THE Middlesex. But it was a good mistake, since he was able to study there under Sir Francis Avery-Jones, the local expert and grandfather of British Gastroenterology, instead of a young upstart.
Early “Central “Middlesex 
Avery 
Upstart
Avery was kind when I started my Consultant career, taking me to lunch at the Atheneum, a very private London club, and telling me how to behave. I don’t recall the advice, but I do remember the pheasant and a modest claret.
So, back to THE Middlesex. It opened as the Middlesex Infirmary in 1745 with 15 beds to provide medical treatment for the poor. The hospital moved to Mortimer Street, in 1757.
The new and final building on the same site was opened by King George VI in 1935.
The medical schools of the Middlesex Hospital and nearby University College Hospital (UCH) merged in 1987 to form the University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, which itself merged with the Royal Free in 1998 to form the University College London Medical School. The Middlesex building closed in 2005 with activities transferred with old UCH to the new hospital on Euston Rd.
Prior members and supporters of the Gastroenterology department held a wake party in the building in 2007 after it closed, and before it was demonished. Many familar faces, and in the front row: Chris Russell, Lord Bernie Ribiero, Marion and Peter Cotton, Adrian Hatfield.
When the hospital was demolished it left the chapel standing proud (for medical readers, looking like a “visible vessel” in an ulcer crater)
The site is now covered in fancy appartments, offices and restaurants, but the now renovated and renamed Fitzrovia Chapel is preserved and well worth a visit
Lots of nostalgia recently about the Middlesex, as evidenced by the popularity of its facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheMiddlesexHospital.
All part of life’s rich tapestry.
Thank you for the facts. I was at the Middlesex from 71-76. Recently working with a gal from Mongolia- she was very perturbed by my Middlesex tee shirt!! I assumed it was because of counties as I knew of Sussex, Wessex and Essex but could not explain Northex!! Thanks
Thank you very much for posting this account
Thank you Peter for the summary of the history of The Middlesex – it remains my fondest memories working as a deputy administrator doing my best to support you and your colleagues assisted by my boss Gareth Herbert, from whom I learnt that my role was to champion the clinical services I had responsibility for rather than curtailment as seems to be the case now – I wish you and your family all very best. Chris
Good memories, thanks
Thanks for the interesting summary. I was a student on the Ball & Cotton firm in 1976, my first taste of clinical medicine and remember your innovative work and energy. I think the registrar’s name was Charmaine and can still recall her teaching on anaemia. Inspiring HPs Tony Rathbone and Colin Ainley. I ended up as a consultant physician at West Middlesex Hospital. Fond memories of the Middlesex and its teaching. Best wishes.
Fascinating. Still sad she’s gone; made us into the doctors we are.
Very nostalgic pics of Middlesex where I was SR in 1973 working with Peter my ERCP Guru and Peter Ball a very versatile physician. I thoroughly enjoyed this rotation for 2 yrs and then moved to Central to work with Sir Francis, George Misiewicz , Margot Shiner, David Edwards, Donald Kelock etc. In 1977 I moved to India to work in Post Graduate Medical Institute ( PGI ) in Chandigarh as Associate Professor. I worked there for 20 yrs and retired there in 1997 as Professor and Head of Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. It was very exciting and fruitful working in Chandigarh, interacting with brilliant postgraduates, teaching, publishing, and attending conferences in India and abroad. We had lots of fun working together and socialising. I then came to Scotland and worked as a consultant Gastroenterologist in Glasgow and Inverclyde Royal hospital Greenock till 2008. I now live in two continents Winter in India and Summer in Europe.
Thanks Jang, good memories.
Thank you for the wonderful potted history of the MH. Interesting facts that I did not know. I was in the November 1963 nursing set. After qualifying I was a SN on de Morgan Ward.
Hello Peter
I am trying to recall the name of a psychiatrist at The Middlesex in the 1980s. He has lunch in the board room which is where I met him. He worked also in a psychiatric hospital in north London.
Have you any recollection of him?
I hope you are well.
Tom
All good Tom, but sorry no…..