Voluntary hospital

Created from the eighteenth century onwards in England, hospitals using this model were established later in America, Ireland, and Australia.

They were initially financed by public subscription, philanthropy and fundraising, but in some cases voluntary hospitals now accept varying degrees of state funding for their activities.

[4] Ten of the largest and most influential former voluntary hospitals in England established the Shelford Group in 2011 to protect their common interests.

A similar business model applied to all general hospitals in New South Wales up to the 1950s.

Despite the charitable structure, much of the capital and half of the operating losses were being funded by state government by 1913.