The Lindo Wing – more than just babies
Famous births have brought widespread attention to the Lindo Wing’s excellent maternity service but it may surprise you to know that the famous hospital wing has world-class expertise in treating many other conditions.
The Lindo Wing is known worldwide for outstanding maternal care for both straightforward and complex pregnancies, and celebrities and royalty have chosen to have their babies here. Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born here and before them Princes William and Harry.
What is probably less well-known is that the Lindo, a private wing at St Mary’s Hospital run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, offers the latest treatments and surgery by highly skilled consultants and nursing teams for a variety of medical issues.
The unit has some of the country’s top surgeons specialising in trauma and orthopaedics, weight loss, vascular surgery, gynaecology, urology, ENT (ear, nose and throat), and general surgery. Patients can also have the latest non-surgical treatments for heart problems, skin problems, diabetes, lung conditions and stroke recovery.
The Lindo Wing has provided a range of medical care since its opening in 1937 by Queen Elizabeth, subsequently the Queen Mother. It was funded by Frank Charles Lindo, a wealthy businessman, and started out as a private wing for ‘patients of moderate means’, neither poor enough to be treated at a voluntary hospital (as St Mary’s was at the time) nor able to afford more expensive treatment. After the NHS took over St Mary’s in 1948, the Lindo Wing took on the role of providing private care and members of society and entertainers were among its patients.
Today the Lindo Wing provides world-class consultant-led care among first-class facilities attached to St Mary’s, one of the leading hospitals in the country.
There is a dedicated theatre for maternity and two other fully refurbished state-of-the-art operating theatres. One of the theatres has the latest robotic keyhole technology and is specially designed for minimally invasive surgery which results in the best outcomes for patients.
As well as clinical excellence, attention has been paid to patients’ wellbeing and comfort. The Lindo Wing features stunning artwork by acclaimed visual artist Julian Opie. His 40 panels showing moving figures are displayed throughout the wing’s five floors to “enliven” the space for patients and staff.
All 34 inpatient rooms are ensuite and include deluxe rooms and suites for more space. Each room has a satellite TV, a safe, small fridge and bedside phone and food is freshly prepared in a dedicated kitchen on site. New parents can enjoy a traditional English high tea while the postnatal unit has a 24-hour nursery for newborns.
“The Lindo Wing combines excellent medical care with a high level of service and comfort,” said Nick Loizou, service manager at The Lindo Wing. “We do our very best to make sure our patients feel welcome and as comfortable as possible.”
Patients also have the peace of mind that they are receiving exceptional care in the setting of a large acute NHS hospital with all its back-up services, such as world-class emergency facilities and a specialist neonatal unit, should these be required.
Nick added: “Whatever the reason people come to the Lindo Wing, whether to have a baby or for complex keyhole surgery, they know they are in safe hands with access to exceptional medical expertise in a wide range of conditions.”
Prior to October 2023, Imperial College Healthcare Private Care was known as Imperial Private Healthcare.
