In 1889 the West Ham Board of Guardians purchased Forest House with 44 acres (18 ha) of grounds at Whipps Cross in Leytonstone, with the intention of building a workhouse.

[4] During the First World War, the infirmary was used to treat wounded troops; a brass plaque in the main corridor has this inscription: "This tablet was erected to commemorate the visit of Their Majesties King George V & Queen Mary with H.R.H.

Princess Mary, to this Infirmary and War Hospital on Saturday, 17 November 1917, when Their Majesties visited the wounded soldiers and the Queen presented the medals and certificates of training to the nurses.

[2] Management passed from the Board of Guardians to the County Borough of West Ham council in 1930 as a result of the Local Government Act 1929.

[2] Forest House was used as a ward for male mental patients; it was closed in 1962 when a new hostel, Samuel Boyce Lodge, was opened, and was finally demolished in 1964.

[8] Whipps Cross provides a full range of local general hospital services and is home to one of the busiest A&E departments in the country.

[17] The final live broadcast from Whipps Cross Hospital Radio took place in September 2022, with the service due to close completely at the end of 2022.