Henry VIII gate St Bartholomew's Hospital Smithfie

The statue marks Henry's decision to give a royal charter to the hospital, founded in 1123 by the monk Rahere. Henry's full scale dismantling of the monasteries meant that many hospitals closed down. The royal charter enabled Barts to continue to provide free care to everyone that it had always done. In 1971 I began my nurse training at this hospital. I passed the gate today as Legal director of a charity on my way to a meeting with a firm of solicitors. But I am still working to improve patient care