Chelsea and Westminster Hospital celebrates 30th anniversary

Chelsea FC, Amanda Holden and Sophie Ellis-Bextor lead the birthday tributes as staff abseil for charity

On Thursday 25 May, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary—with Premier League footballers, celebrities, staff and patients involved in the birthday celebrations.

Opened in 1993 by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Chelsea and Westminster was at the cutting edge of hospital design and has remained an innovator since—proudly serving people across North West London and beyond with high-quality, safe and compassionate care.

To kick-off the festivities, the hospital’s youngest patients received a visit from Chelsea FC players, followed by a special training session with the team. Hospital supporters Amanda Holden, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richard Arnold, Abbie Quinnen and local club Fulham FC sent video messages of thanks to mark the occasion.

Thursday also sees the launch of our hospital charity’s most ambitious fundraising campaign to date. Over the next three years, the CW+ Thirty at Thirty campaign aims to raise £30m to support Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the ongoing delivery of outstanding care to the communities it serves. More than 60 staff helped to launch this today by abseiling down the hospital building, raising more than £30,000 so far.

As part of one of the top performing hospital trusts in the country, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has much to celebrate and reflect on:

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is rated ‘Outstanding’ overall by the Care Quality Commission
• We have one of the lowest hospital mortality rates in England
• Our world-renowned burns service is the leading centre in London and the South East
• Our Trust has one of the largest maternity services in England
• Our new neonatal intensive care unit cares for nearly 1,000 babies each year
• Our robotic surgery programme has reduced length of stay and recovery time for many patients
• Our new intensive care unit is a world-class facility, home to the latest technology
• We led the way in rolling out the oral antiviral, Paxlovid, which helps clinically vulnerable patients recover from COVID-19—in trials, it cut COVID-19 hospital admissions by 88%
• We have one of the largest and busiest HIV and sexual health services in Europe, delivering world-class care and outcomes for over 200,000 patients a year
• Our trial into pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent the onward transmission of HIV was the largest of its kind in the UK and means it is now available on the NHS
• We offer a unique range of services for trans and non-binary patients including gender affirming surgery and a specialist gender identity clinic
• Our 500 dedicated volunteers help improve and enhance patient experience

Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Lesley Watts CBE, said: “Since opening in 1993, Chelsea and Westminster has developed into one of the most innovative and highest performing hospitals in the country. I’m so proud of everything that has been achieved in the past 30 years, which would not have been possible without the dedication and skill of our incredible staff, past and present.

“I’m delighted to celebrate this milestone with colleagues, patients and supporters and look forward to continuing to provide safe, compassionate and innovative care as our hospital enters its fourth decade.”

Along with the CW+ charity abseil, activities are taking place across the hospital to mark the occasion, including a VIP Birthday event with the new Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, the new Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Preety Hudd, Greg Hands MP, plus entertainment from our staff choir and the Chelsea Pensioners. Staff will enjoy a BBQ in our wellbeing garden, and inpatients will receive a special birthday dining menu and entertainment.

Hospital Radio Chelsea and Westminster has also been part of the celebrations, by broadcasting a day of 90s music requests and interviews with long-serving staff.

Celebrity patients and local supporters have also paid tribute to staff at the hospital.

Patient and singer-songwriter, Sophie Ellis-Bextor said: “A huge thank you to all the staff at Chelsea and Westminster. I have had 5 babies at the hospital and everyone we encountered was so amazing. Happy birthday!”

Media personality and actress, Amanda Holden said: “Happy birthday to Chelsea and Westminster hospital. The work you do to support staff and patients is amazing. I hope you have a fantastic time celebrating.”

The team at local football club Fulham FC said: “Happy Birthday Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Thanks for everything you do to care for people in our community.”

Notes to editors

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has a long and rich history of providing excellent patients care whilst being leaders of research and innovation. The Hospital was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II on 13 May 1993, bringing together the services of Westminster Hospital, Westminster Children’s Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital and St Mary Abbot’s Hospital, into a brand-new, purpose-built hospital. This new hospital was designed to make the best use of light and incorporate arts, which had rarely been done before, and the large atrium space was created to remove the enclosed corridors of traditional hospitals.
• Our charity, CW+, marks the 30th birthday of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital by launching its most ambitious fundraising cmpaign to date. Over the next three years, ‘Thirty at Thirty’ aims to raise £30m to support Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the ongoing delivery of outstanding care to the communities it serves. The funds raised will help both our hospital sites by creating world-class facilities, driving innovation and research, and enhancing patient and staff wellbeing. Find out more: Thirty at Thirty—CW+.
• Over the past 30 years, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has showcased high quality research, innovation and patient centred care. Further highlights from the past 30 years include: 
  • In 2021, state-of-the-art adult and neonatal intensive care units were officially opened. The redevelopment has enabled more than 2000 critically ill adults and babies be treated every year.
  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital lead the way in rolling out the new oral antiviral, Paxlovid, which helps clinically vulnerable patients recover from COVID-19 from the comfort of their own home. In trials, it cut COVID-19 hospital admissions by 88%. 
  • Researchers and staff at the Trust have played their part proving the effectiveness of the new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The Trust Clinical Research Facility and other research staff ran one of the 21 trial sites.
  • A new Paediatric Ambulatory Care unit opened in 2022 ensuring a safe environment for patients with a wide range of conditions.
  • Chelsea and Westminster led on the MPOX vaccine rollout.
• Radio CW launches special broadcast with interviews with Chris Higgs, Head of Nursing for HIV/Sexual Health and Dermatology, and Miriam Busani, Orthotics Manager. Chris and Miriam, who have worked at the trust for 40 years and 30 years respectively, took a look back at their journey through Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as well as their favourite memories they have forged here.