[3] The hospital operated a 'pay-by-your-means' policy until 1948, when the National Health Service was formed, causing St Anthony's to begin accepting public patients with funding from the NHS.

[3] Responding to this change in status, it developed a speciality for cardiac surgery[1] and moved to a smaller purpose-built facility opened by Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk in October 1975.

[4] In 1987, the Daughters of the Cross formed St. Raphael's Hospice,[3] a registered charity providing specialist medical and nursing care for those with cancer and other serious illnesses and support for the families of the afflicted.

[5] By 2012, a decline in the membership of the Daughters of the Cross, coupled with the advanced age of many of its members, led the order to seek to divest itself of responsibility for the hospital and hospice.

[8] In November 2013, Burstow presented a petition to Parliament, signed by over 7,000 people, requesting government help in blocking the sale.