Growth in hospitals

Why was there a growth in hospitals during the Renaissance?

Hospitals and Training

Medical schools were often attached to hospitals and new doctors received training as well as cared for the sick.

Doctors learned mainly through lectures and reading in medical schools.

Doctors liked to gain an official post at a hospital, because it gave them a better reputation and status which attracted wealthy private patients.

Multiple Select

Why did doctors want an official post at hospitals?

• Gave them a better reputation

• Work in nicer places

• Attracted wealthy patients

Attitudes

Attitudes began to change by moving always from the idea that illness was a punishment due to sin; they began thinking that illness could be dealt with from a more evidence-based, scientific point of view. For example, St Luke’s Hospital’s senior doctor, William Battie, advocated that mental illness was ‘no less curable than any other disease’. 

Types of hospitals

The eighteenth century specialist hospitals as well as general hospitals cared for the sick. 

Towards the end of the eighteenth century some patients were treated for free as wealthy donations and charities covered the costs. In addition, hospitals created dispensaries where the poor would be given medicines without any charge. 

During the reign of Elizabeth I Poor Laws were introduced that meant the rich had to pay taxes to help the poor, this meant that alms-houses were set up as a way of combatting poverty and offering help to the elderly and sick. 

Hospital boom!

Between 1720 and 1750 five new types of hospitals were built in addition to London’s two ancient (original monasteries) hospitals and nine more through the rest of the country. By 1800, London’s hospitals were handling over 20,000 patients a year.

There was a religious motive behind the change in hospital numbers as good Christians did more than go to church but instead they showed their faith by trying to do good dead in the community like giving to charity. Within the hospitals, the importance of religious beliefs was downplayed and instead stressed the focus on patient care and cure.