Opening of London Lock Hospital

Date: January 31, 1747 • Location: City of Westminster, United Kingdom

The London Lock Hospital, the first voluntary hospital specialising in the treatment of venereal diseases, opened.

The London Lock Hospital was the first voluntary hospital for venereal disease. It was also the most famous and first of the Lock Hospitals which were developed for the treatment of syphilis following the end of the use of lazar hospitals, as leprosy declined. The hospital later developed maternity and gynaecology services before being incorporated into the National Health Service in 1948 and closing in 1952.