Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI) began as the Doncaster Dispensary in 1792 on French Gate (now Greyfriars Road). The town’s first purpose-built hospital, St James’ Hospital, was founded in 1852 and served the community for over a century before its demolition in 1963. In 1867, the Doncaster General Infirmary and Dispensary opened, but as the town grew and medicine advanced, the need for a larger, more modern hospital became clear. A three-day fundraising event, supported by HRH Princess Christian, helped secure Home Office approval for the institution to become Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Dispensary.
Construction of the current site on Thorne Road began in 1930 with the West Ward Block. Over the next few decades, the hospital expanded significantly: the East Ward Block opened in 1968, the Women’s Hospital in 1969, and the Children’s Hospital in 1989.
In the decades since, DRI has remained a cornerstone of healthcare in Doncaster, offering a wide range of acute services and hosting key departments such as the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit. The site has seen major refurbishments and investment in diagnostics, theatres, and digital systems. Today, it is home to over 500 inpatient beds and serves as a training and education hub for future healthcare professionals, in partnership with local universities.
Bassetlaw Hospital, Worksop, has provided healthcare on the Kilton Hill site for over a century. It started with the opening of the 5-bed Victoria Hospital in 1900, which became part of the NHS in 1948 and was later demolished in the 1990s. The foundation stone for the larger Kilton Hospital (later Bassetlaw Hospital) was laid in 1902. The current hospital began to take shape in the 1980s, with construction of new buildings from 1984 to 1987. By 1988, inpatient and emergency services had transferred from Retford Hospital.
Since then, Bassetlaw Hospital has evolved into a vital district general hospital for North Nottinghamshire. It includes a busy Emergency Department with an onsite Primary Care Access Hub, a Maternity Unit with a Midwife-Led Birth Centre, and a range of inpatient and outpatient services. In recent years, investment has been made into the hospital’s surgical capacity and diagnostics. Future plans include ongoing site upgrades and exploring new service models to meet the changing needs of the population.
Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, opened its doors in 1890 thanks to buildings donated by local landowner Andrew Montagu. A larger site was purchased in 1900 due to growing demand, and community contributions – including weekly donations from workers – helped fund major expansions throughout the 1920s.
For many years, Montagu operated as a traditional community hospital. However, in the 1990s and early 2000s, the site underwent substantial modernisation. It became home to the Montagu Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, supporting patients recovering from major illness and injury, and played a central role in regional intermediate care services.
In January 2024, the hospital entered a new chapter with the opening of the Montagu Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence (MEOC) – a £14.9 million state-of-the-art facility delivering planned orthopaedic procedures in a dedicated, high-spec environment. This development positions Montagu as a key elective hub within the region and is expected to significantly reduce waiting times for patients.
Retford Hospital was founded in 1922 as a tribute to local lives lost during the First World War. It originally featured two wards, private rooms, and a fully equipped operating theatre. In the mid-20th century, additional wards were added to support elderly care.
Inpatient services were gradually transferred to Bassetlaw Hospital during the 1980s. Retford has since been reconfigured to provide outpatient and community-based care. Today, it houses services including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and sexual health clinics, maintaining its role as a local care setting. Though no longer a full acute hospital, it remains part of the local NHS estate and continues to serve the people of Retford and surrounding areas.
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