Our history

Here you can find a brief timeline of key dates from the creation of our academic health science centre (AHSC), plus key publications from the 2007 consultation process.

16 February 2006 - Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, St Mary's NHS Trust and Imperial College London announce they are commissioning a feasibility study of creating a formal partnership, referred to at the time as an 'academic NHS foundation trust'.

26 July 2006 - Following a four-month review period the boards of the three organisations resolve to create the UK's first academic health science centre (AHSC) through the merger of the two trusts and closer working with the faculty of medicine at Imperial College London.

13 October 2006 - The two trusts submit an application to become a biomedical research centre (BRC) to the Department of Health. An AHSC programme team is put in place.

11 December 2006 - The two trusts are awarded BRC status in partnership with Imperial College London.

1 May 2007 - The three organisations announce a public consultation on the creation of the AHSC, to run from 1 May to 31 July.

1 August 2007 - The results of the consultation show overwhelming public support for the creation of the AHSC.

29 August 2007 - The UK secretary of state approves the merger between Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and St Mary's NHS Trust and integration with Imperial College London, creating the UK's first AHSC as of 1 October 2007.

1 October 2007 - Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is launched, becoming the UK's largest acute NHS trust and, in partnership with Imperial College London, the UK's first AHSC. Professor Stephen Smith is formally appointed as chief executive/principal.

2 February 2009 - The government announces Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London has been shortlisted for the second round of its formal AHSC designation process.

9 March 2009 - Results of the formal AHSC designation process announced – Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London officially recognised as an AHSC.