Barts Health Archives

Barts Health Archives is the archival service of Barts Health NHS Trust, the National Health Service trust that operates several major hospitals in London, including St Bartholomew's Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, Newham University Hospital, Whipps Cross University Hospital and Mile End Hospital. The archives exist to collect, preserve and make accessible the historical records of these hospitals and their predecessor institutions, some of which trace their origins back centuries. As part of an NHS trust, the archives are publicly funded and operate within the United Kingdom's public records and health service frameworks rather than as a commercial business. The service is closely associated with the trust's wider heritage, museums and art programme, which manages historic collections, works of art and museum objects connected to the hospitals. Through this programme, Barts Health Archives supports research by historians, genealogists, clinicians and the public, and contributes to public engagement, exhibitions and educational activities. Its holdings are likely to include administrative, clinical, estate and staff records, photographs, and other material documenting the development of hospital care in East London and the City of London. Because the archives belong to an NHS trust, they are not a commercial brand in the conventional sense. They function as a public heritage and records-management service, with access governed by NHS and archival policies, including data protection rules for records containing personal information. The archives' online presence is hosted within the Barts Health NHS Trust website, where information about access, enquiries and the related museums and art collections is provided.

Barts Health Archives is the archival service of Barts Health NHS Trust, which was formed in 2012 from the merger of Barts and The London NHS Trust, Newham University Hospital NHS Trust and Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust. The archives bring together the historical records of the trust's hospitals and their predecessor institutions. These hospitals include St Bartholomew's Hospital, founded in the 12th century, and The Royal London Hospital, founded in the 18th century, both of which have long and well-documented histories. The archives therefore hold material that predates the NHS itself and reflects the evolution of voluntary hospitals, medical education and healthcare in London. Following the creation of Barts Health NHS Trust, the archives were organised as part of the trust's heritage function, alongside its museums and art collections. The service is based in London and operates under the trust's governance, with policies covering access, preservation and data protection. It supports research and public engagement, and works with partners such as historians, genealogists and academic institutions. The archives' online presence is maintained within the Barts Health NHS Trust website, where details of the collections, access arrangements and related museums and art are provided.

• Barts Health NHS Trust formed from the merger of Barts and The London NHS Trust, Newham University Hospital NHS Trust and Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust.

Public heritage and records-management service within an NHS trust, providing archival access and supporting the trust's museums and art collections.

1. 1Barts Health Archives on Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Barts Health NHS Trust – Archives, Museums and Artbartshealth.nhs.uk