The hospital has its origins in some rented accommodation in St Swithin's which opened in November 1769.

[1] A purpose-built facility was designed by John Carr and William Lumby and built in Drury Lane between 1776 and 1777.

[4] Construction work, undertaken by Shepherd Building Group on a maternity unit commenced on site on 2 May 1966.

[5] The seven-storey maternity unit was opened by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon on 4 December 1968.

[6][7] Construction of Phase One of the main hospital, undertaken by Shepherd Building Group, began at the end of July 1981.

[12][13] Construction of Phase Two of the hospital, undertaken by Higgs and Hill Northern, started on 7 December 1989.

Accordingly Keogh found that the complaints handling system was not fit for purpose.