Our History
It all began with a gift. A single donation of land that laid the foundations for 200 years of support for heart and lung care in London and beyond
Contact us
How it all began
Our story starts with the hospitals. Royal Brompton opened its doors in 1841, followed by Harefield in 1915. In 1948 the donated land was given to the NHS. Jump forward fifty years to 1998, the two hospitals came together to form the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust. Then in 2021, they joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, becoming part of one of the UK’s largest NHS organisations.
Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity was set up to support both hospitals through fundraising. in 2012 we became fully independent from the NHS – a status we’ve kept ever since.
How we help
Although we operate independently, we exist to support Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals – funding improvements, research and experiences.
That includes:
- Major building and redevelopment projects
- Pioneering equipment (often the first-of-its-kind)
- Vital research and innovation
- Better hospital experiences for patients with heart and lung conditions
- Staff development – through bursaries, fellowships and learning
A legacy of coming together
Over the years, several other charities have joined us including Friends of Royal Brompton, CORDA, Friends of Harefield and Have a Heart. Each one brought something unique. But what connects us all is a shared commitment to transforming the lives of heart and lung patients everywhere.
