There has been a hospital on the St Bartholomew's site in central London since 1123. Between 1723 and 1758 the medieval buildings were demolished and the James Gibbs-designed Italianate Piazza was built, including the West Wing building, completed in 1752. This continued in ward use until the early 1990s, but then was only partially occupied by medical departments. The question of its future was brought into greater focus by the general transformation of the hospital being planned under a £billion-plus PFI scheme. Reusing the West Wing became one of four advance projects to resolve problematic issues. This project is modest by PFI standards, at an £8.2 million construction cost, and separately funded by public appeal.
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