patients. With the creation of the National Health Service in 1948 it was renamed Leicester General Hospital, and was part of the Sheffield regional hospital board, which was reorganised as the Trent Regional Health Authority in 1974. In 1950, Leicester General Hospital began to admit emergency cases every third day, and in 1954 opened its first maternity ward. In 1974, "Radio Gwendolen", the LGH's hospital radio service, began broadcasting, and the first WRVS shop, and also a new rehabilitation department offering physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and occupational therapy opened. In 1975, LGH became a teaching hospital, and carried out its first kidney transplant on 12 March. On 1 April 1993, the LGH was granted Trust status, and a clinical education centre was opened in 1994. In 2000 Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital and the Royal Infirmary merged to form the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. As of 2015 Leicester General Hospital specialised in renal care, orthopaedics, diabetes research, urology, maternity, brain injuries, and treatment for disabled children. Closing of ITU beds In July 2018 UHL supported by the Department of Health released 230 pages of plans, which would see all but one of the twelve top-level intensive care beds transferred to either Glenfield Hospital or the Leicester Royal Infirmary as part of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP). The Leicester Mercury patients panel criticised the proposal both because of the lack of public consultation before presentation and its effect on inhibiting more complex surgery which require ICU beds. In August, a De Montfort University report also criticised lack of consultation in the plan which was unchanged since 2015 when it was rushed through apparently because of its urgency. See also List of hospitals in England References Notes Bibliography External links NHS hospitals in England Buildings and structures in Leicester Hospitals in Leicestershire Teaching hospitals in England Hospitals established in 1905 1905 establishments in England