Royal Free Hospital

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and we continue to play a leading role in the care of our patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care.

Established in 1828 by William Marsden, a newly qualified surgeon shocked that he could not find treatment for a penniless young woman, the Royal Free's founding principle was that they would take in anyone who needed treatment – the first hospital in London to do so and the only London hospital to stay open during the 19th-century cholera epidemics.

In the 21st century, we continue to lead improvements in healthcare and are proud to have some of the best clinical outcomes in the country. Our mortality rates have been consistently among the best in English trusts for many years.