Even with the drastic growth in the amount of hospitals, only about 10% cared for the sick. These places were called hospitals because they specialised in 'hospitality', a place for rest and recuperation. For example, St Bartholomew's in London looked after destitute women who were pregnant and supported the infants of mothers who died during childbirth.

Leper hospitals:

This was an incurable and contagious disease during the medieval period
A leprosy epidemic during the 12th and 13th centuries brought a growth to specific leprosy hospitals
Leprosy caused horrible bodily deformity and lepers were forced to ring a bell as they walked
Many thought this disease was a punishment from God
Leper hospitals were built on the outskirts of the town and provided lodging and food

Almshouses:

Similar to a modern care home
Created in response to an aging population
Almshouses offered sheltered accommodation and basic nursing, but no medical treatment
Most were small; occupied by a priest and a dozen inmates
Almshouses also gave shelter to travellers and the poor

Christian hospitals:

These were established and fully funded by the church to look after the poor and sick
They did not treat sickness but aimed to make patients comfortable
People who were seriously ill and in need of constant care were often not let in, as they would distract from the main purposes of attending religious services and prayer
Basic nursing with regular meals and sometimes surgery and medicine
Staff were often brothers and sisters in religious orders but did not attempt to cure them
Doctors were very scarce e.g. St Bartholomew's which was founded in 1123 appointed its first doctor in the 16th century
Hospitals were religious institutions often referred to as the 'Houses of God'
Patients were expected to spend much of the day praying and confessing sins
It was believed these people were poor and sick because of their sin and they needed to rid themselves of this

Developments in Patient Care