In the media
Open Letters
The Times View - 3rd February 2022
The first instinct on learning of the proposal to re-designate Barts and the London medical school as the QMUL Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, thus dropping the name of St Bartholomew, is to think the student body must be upset with the apostle. Perhaps he had been overly rude about the Philistines in the first century AD. Perhaps hotheads had decreed Bartholomew should take the rap for the massacre of Huguenots on the day that bears his name in 1572. Or maybe they’d simply turned against the Simpsons. But no, undergraduates and alumni alike are very keen to keep the ancient name, as their petition and today’s letter on our pages shows. And they are right.
The dispute does not involve wokery, but rather the older absurdity of an unnecessary and counterproductive corporate rebrand, epitomised by the switch from Royal Mail to Consignia in 2001, which cost £2 million, lasted a year and made the post office a laughing stock. Even without their attendant history, the words “Barts” and “London” carry a heft and appeal that the insipid and hard to pronounce “QMUL” can never match.
As it is, Barts and London are powerful brands in their own right. Barts hospital, founded in 1123, is the oldest functioning health facility in Britain still on its original site. It has survived the Great Fire, the Blitz and bureaucratic threats of closure. William Harvey, who in 1628 first described the systemic circulation of blood in animals, was chief physician there. A century or so later, also at Barts, Percivall Pott demonstrated that cancer could be caused by an environmental carcinogen. The medical school numbers eight Nobel laureates among its alumni. To sideline such history is an act of folly.
Published in The Times - 3rd February 2022
Sir, The council of Queen Mary College has decided to bury the names of Barts and the London schools of medicine and dentistry, replacing them with the name of QMUL Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. The Royal London Hospital has had a medical school since 1785, and Barts, which was founded in 1123 and celebrates its 900th anniversary next year, similarly has had a medical school since the early 1800s.
This move wipes out hundreds of years of heritage, history and success from renowned establishments whose names are synonymous with high- class medicine and research known around the world. The renaming appears to have been done without consultation with staff, alumni or students and is justifiably attracting much opposition. As members of a group of 60 Barts graduates who still meet regularly 55 years on, we urge the university leadership to reverse their divisive decision.
Dr R Atkinson, ret’d consultant in pain medicine, Sheffield; Richard L Cooper, ret’d ophthalmic surgeon, Jackeys Marsh, Tasmania; Dr Diane Smyth, consultant paediatric neurologist, Cookham Dean, Berks; Dr Susan James, ret’d medical practitioner, Cardiff; Dr Adnan Nicola, ret’d consultant anaesthetist, Toronto
Published in The Times - 4th February 2022
Sir, you report (letter and news, Feb 4) concern over the plan to drop Barts’ name in favour of QMUL Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Most universities are rightly concerned about their international brand’s ability to lure the best students, teachers and researchers. Hence this seems a strange idea by QMUL as Barts has arguably the stronger international reputation for excellence in teaching (of which I was a beneficiary) and research, with eight Noble prizewinners. Rahere, whose 900th anniversary of the founding of the hospital is due to be celebrated next year, would turn in his grave at the name of Barts being dropped. It is to be hoped that good sense will prevail.
Professor Ian Kunkler
Edinburgh University; Barts 1975-78
Published in The Times - 7th February 2022
Sir, I note with alarm the strange decision of QMUL to rename Barts and the London School of Medicine “The QMUL Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry”, and the opinion that any objection to the change is “ludicrous” (news and letter, Feb 4). I was the last chairman of the medical council of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, when we were able to overcome the decision of the secretary of state to close down Barts, and we then joined with the Royal London Hospital. Since then Barts has been superbly refurbished and the Royal London rebuilt, with outstanding specialist services as well as serving one of the poorest areas in Europe. Our joint medical school then came under the compass of QMUL but successfully fought off an attempt by QMUL to lose our specific name and identity. It seems that QMUL is again attempting to lose a unique “brand” in corporate restructuring.
Barts and the London School of Medicine has not only produced an outstanding set of major medical figures, it has trained several Nobel laureates (letter, Feb 5), including the recent award to Sir Peter Ratcliffe, and is voted by students as one of the best training schools in the UK.
I am puzzled by Lord Winston’s suggestion that without QMUL branding the medical school will ignore chemistry and pharmacology; simplistically, I had thought those were exactly the subjects we were teaching our students, and in many cases carrying out internationally acknowledged research in these areas.
Ashley Grossman FMedSci
Professor of Endocrinology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Published in his column in The Telegraph - 14th February 2022
The proposed rebranding of Barts and The London would suggest a philistine disdain for the past. Together the combined histories of these two institutions stretches back more than a thousand years. Barts is the older and more distinguished foundation through its connections with the Priory of St Bartholomew the Great, the oldest parish church in London, and William Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood whose experimental methods rank amongst the most influential in all of science.
But we alumni of The London are similarly proud of our institution, not least for its heroic role during the nine months of the Blitz – despite sustaining repeated damage from high explosives and incendiary bombs. “The ground floor was full of casualties but quiet enough to hear the drone of the planes overhead,” recalled Sir John Ellis, the former Dean.
The sight of nurses working by torchlight – “their soft faces contrasting with their tin hats” – was particularly memorable, along with “a young girl clambering back into her frail emergency ambulance and driving off into the lurid red smoke billowing from burning buildings”. In the early morning the “women of Whitechapel” would arrive with their mops and buckets ensuring the hospital remained spotlessly clean. Given such rich institutional memories, how foolish to suppose, as claimed, that the amalgamation and renaming of the schools of medicine of both hospitals will create “a strong coherent identity”.
Dr James Le Fanu
Alumnus (The London Medical College), author, and journalist
Petition Comments
I am a visible and proud alumni. The history, the brand, the identity of Barts and The London is key to the work of the medical school. This can exist in tandem with QMUL but to change the name and identify is to lose a great deal and gain nothing.
Simon Fleming
It would be tragic to lose the history of this great medical school. And would certainly make me think twice about supporting it as an alumni!
Theo Perkins
Barts and The London medical schools are the oldest in the world and QMUL should embrace and respect the history that imbues their university with such honour. They are the guardians of these two venerable institutions not the rulers.
Tim Beresford
This is a decision that undeniably affects primarily students, alumni and staff of the medical and dentistry school and therefore should be made at the very least in consultation and with their consent
Lucy Rose Jefferson
I’m signing because I am an alumnus of Barts and The London and do not want this name to be erased. I do not consider myself an alumnus of the ‘Queen Mary Medical School‘
Tom Sharp
This decision has been taken completely unilaterally and with no concerns for student voice. This decision will detrimentally affect the global recognition of this medical school for years to come. Listen to students QMUL Exec!
Caitlin Gordon
I feel privileged to be able to say I went to Barts & The London. A name that is well known and thought of for generations. Why would you want to remove it and have future students lose all the historical connections and chance to have the same pride that I have?
Fiona Gavin
Although I support collaboration with QMUL, the decision to erase Barts’ history and disregard the wishes of its thousands of alumni and current students as well as the memory of all those who have contributed to the world because of it seems like a short sighted and poorly thought out undemocratic PR stunt.
Vincent Quan
As a Freeman of the City of London and a City of London Guide I care deeply about the story and achievements of my City. Over that last 900 years Barts has been a major feature of the City's resilience and care of its citizens. The name is part of its DNA, and nothing would be served by submerging it under Queen Mary's brand.
Michael Dudgeon
The overwhelming number of signatures in such a short space of time speak absolute volumes... Despite how this campaign may likely be perceived by the President and Principle of QMUL and his team, this petition is not those associated with Barts and The London saying they do not want to be a part of Queen Mary. It is not a way for them to say they are better than the rest of Queen Mary. This petition is simply asking the senior leadership of Queen Mary to reconsider their decision to discard the name of their medical and dental school which, not only carries an overwhelming about of history, but more importantly is a source of incredible identity and sense of belonging to many many people, not to mention an important asset to the rich diversity of this Russell group university.
Thomas Longbottom
I am a proud medical graduate from the oldest hospital, Bart’s and the timing of this name change, without consultation is abysmal as we near the 900 th anniversary in 2023. Shame on those trying to push this through.
Deborah Stevens
Bart’s is the oldest hospital in London and has such history. Don’t lose the name and the memories - it’s part of the City of London, just like the Bank of England and St Paul’s!
Susy Griffin
I am an alumni of Barts and The London, and I am proud of the history that comes with the name. The fact that the school has a special name, even makes it more unique and doesn't stop it from being part of the QMUL. I think the decision to ignore the voices of students, staff and alumni is absolutely ill-advised and disappointing.
Obii Jude
I'm not a medic but I've heard of the historic name of Barts. What a shame to wipe it from our future for the sake of promoting QMUL and a blinking re-branding. I've been through three re-brandings at companies where I worked and they achieved nothing visible to the staff, but cost a lot of money on design and advertising which was demoralising for staff - and also made them feel devalued. As though the work they'd done previously was being claimed by other people who had not taken part in that work.
C Bott
I am immensely proud to be a student at Barts and The London, within QMUL. It is utterly needless and damaging to get rid of a name that means so much to so many people. We will not let it happen.
Alistair Rookes
These hospitals have a rich history (not least of which that St Bartholomew’s is the oldest remaining medical school in Britain and the Royal London the first Hospital to be granted an official charter for teaching medicine) which should be preserved in the name of the medical school.
Clare Rollason
Branding matters. “Barts & The London” has a world class reputation in the training of healthcare professionals. It’s a disservice to graduates to distance the institution from that reputation.
Gayatri Saxena
No logical reason for removing the identity of this great and historic medical school recognised throughout the world. Though an older person (my grandson is a current student) I have no problem with change - if it is needed, rational and carried out after due consultation - this proposal seems to fulfil none of these criteria.
Helen Waites
I live in a part of the world where having history is scarce, is sought after and wherever possible is protected and nurtured. Please don't bury the history and culture of Barts and The London which are truly internationally recognized and known- makes no sense to erase such an inspirational identity.
Rig Patel
I am proud to call myself a graduate from Barts (graduated 1985). We had very close ties with The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. My first year digs were at QMC halls of residence which we shared with London Hospital and QMC students. To drop the Barts and London connection is a travesty to those of us that have worked extremely hard throughout our postgraduate lives ... most of us in the NHS.
Paul Connell
The medical institutions that now make up Barts and The London are historic and world renowned and why students come here to study medicine and dentistry. For example, as a Christian, I am proud that Hudson Taylor medical missionary and founder of the China Inland Mission, studied at The Royal London Hospital in the 1850s - it being a factor that led to my acceptance of the offer to train here. QMUL should be celebrating our rich heritage together.
Enhui Yong
I am a proud graduate of Barts and its historic background is a big part of that. What right does QMUL have to try and bury that legacy with no consultation to those that are affected in a corporate style rebranding?
Desmond Thompson
As a graduate (BDS) of The London Hospital Medical College Dental School (1962), long-serving member of staff, professor and dean, I would like to preserve some of the history by keeping the names of The London and Bart’s alive.
Jeremy Hardie
The London looked after my family from the early 20th century; several were born there. I was a Lecturer in Medicine for seven years at The London; it’s special and this proposed change of name is a nonsense to put it politely
David Levine
This is a foolish and pointless change, which will erase historic associations, no doubt cost unnecessary expense. It will achieve nothing beyond upsetting people of goodwill, some of whom are likely to review their thoughts of leaving generous legacies to the University. In addition, some of the new regulations constitute draconian interference with independent clubs and societies. If those in power had the objective of inflicting self-harm, they have done so, signally. End the whole project now.
Roger Wilson-Tucker
St Bartholomew's Hospital was, and is one of the best teaching hospitals in the world. Barts has meant a huge amount, to a lot of people over the centuries. And continues to do so.The very name Barts immediately makes one think of history, quality, education, high standards of nursing and medical care. What an insult to those people including me, who have had the privilege and pleasure, to have trained and worked under Bart's highly respected name. Keep the name.
Diana Herbert
There have been reports in The Times concerning the fate of Barts, especially when approaching its 900th anniversary, and they have rightly mentioned its great reputation including the eight Nobel prizewinners it has produced. Among these was the very first Nobel prize awarded to any Briton - Sir Ronald Ross who proved the transmission of malaria by mosquitos. Furthermore, my professor of physics at Barts in the 1960s, Sir Joseph Rotblat, was awarded the1995 Nobel Peace prize for his work to eliminate nuclear weapons, having previously worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the atom bomb during World War II. Indeed, Barts is an illustrious name which should be preserved.
Dr Brian Scott Lincoln; Barts 1962-68
This a small selection of the 702 comments we recieved on this petition. To read all of the comments, please visit the petition site.