Queen Square: A History of the National Hospital and its Institute of Neurology

As the first neurological hospital in the world, founded in 1859, the National Hospital, Queen Square, and its affiliated Institute of Neurology remain leading neurological centres providing exceptional clinical services, teaching and research. Illustrated by over 100 historical images and much unpublished archival material, this book provides a comprehensive history of the National Hospital, the Institute, and their staff. It relates the ups and downs of the Hospital and Institute in war and peacetime, their financial struggles, many personality conflicts, efforts to remain independent and to maintain neurological dominance, academic and clinical contributions, issues relating to specialisation and subspecialisation and relations between disciplines, and the changing roles of the Hospital and Institute. The history is told from varying perspectives against the backdrop of the evolution of British clinical neuroscience, the special position of London medicine, and the influence of world wars, and is set in the context of modern British social history.

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Foundation and making of the National Hospital; 2. Queen Square, the salmon pink and other hospital buildings; 3. Queen Square and Neurology 1860–1902; 4. National Hospital quadrumvirate; 5. Roller-coaster ride and the National Hospital rubs along: 1902–45; 6. Five dominant National Hospital physicians; 7. NYS arrives and the hospital celebrates its centenary: 1946–65; 8. Beyond the walls: British neurology outside Queen Square; 9. Neurosurgery and war neurology at Queen Square; 10. Other clinical specialties at Queen Square; 11. Neuropathology, neuroradiology and neurophysiology at Queen Square; 12. The Medical School and Institute of Neurology; 13. The rise of academic neurology at Queen Square: 1962–97; 14. Change and integration: 1962–97; Appendix 1. Medical and surgical appointees to the National Hospital and/or Institute of Neurology; Appendix 2. Senior administrative appointees at the National Hospital and/or Institute of Neurology; Appendix 3. Physicians – National Hospital Queen Square 1860–1997.

About the Author :
Simon Shorvon is Professor Emeritus of Clinical Neurology at University College London, and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Shorvon has won national and international awards for his clinical and research work in the field of epilepsy. He has served Vice-President of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), as editor-in-chief of the journal Epilepsia. He was appointed to the post of Harveian Librarian of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and has held various other national and international professional positions. He has a long-standing interest in the history of neurology, has published books on the history of the ILAE and of the RCP marking its quincentenary Alastair Compston is Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. He is a former president of the European Neurological Society and the Association of British Neurologists, and editor of Brain, a journal of neurology, founded in 1878. His research on the clinical science of human demyelinating disease has been recognised by several international prizes and his election to Fellowship of the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine (USA). In retirement, he is expanding his interests in medical history with books on the library of the Royal College of Physicians (2018), and a bio-bibliography of Thomas Willis, the founder of British neurology (forthcoming).

Review :
'Shorvon and Compston … have produced a volume of really exceptional quality. … This book, a model of its kind, may become a landmark in the history of hospital medicine in the UK.' Ralph Ross Russell, Brain 'The book traces the history of the NHQS since its inception in 1859 until 1997. It was a voluntary hospital until 1948 when the NHS arrived but remained an independent hospital until it joined the University Hospital London NHS Trust in 1996. Readers might be interested to know that the venerable institution came about because of two philanthropic sisters, Johanna and Louisa Chandler and their brother Edward … In short, this is a fascinating, detailed and scholarly read. It is a beautiful book to hold and look through with plenty of photographs. ' Barbara A. Wilson, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation 'The book is well illustrated, including the hospital building at various ages including architectural designs, and, of course, the people … The book is recommended highly as a valuable historical reference, but also for some entertaining reading about the history of neurology, many important neurologists, and the interesting place where they worked.' Mark Hallett, World Neurology 'This book describes the story of the National Hospital Queen Square and its medical school and the Institute of Neurology during the period of 1859 to 1997 … This book relates the complex history from a number of difference perspectives … I very much enjoyed reading the excellent book and strongly suggest my colleagues and friends to read it too.' Pedro Ruiz, The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease '… this book is a must-read for anyone who has an interest or background in neurology. The authors and contributors have produced an absorbing clinical, cultural and historical biography of one of the world's great medical institutions-a gargantuan task. The Queen Square lineage indeed remains strong.' Matthew C. Kiernan, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 'Queen Square is a hospital with a unique history and the authors have succeeded in putting together an engaging volume, in which many neurologists and others interested in the history of medicine and particularly neurology will find material worth reading.' Peter J. Koehler, The Lancet Neurology