History

In 1854 on St. Mark´s day, the 25th April, the “St. Marks´s Hospital for Fistula and other Diseases of the Rectum” was opened at City Road in London in a dedicated new building with 25 beds. Within the next decades, the speciality of colo-proctology was developed by Frederick Salmon and other surgeons at St Mark´s. In 1897, a first extension to the Hospital was built. After the first world war a decision was taken for a second expansion, up to 93 beds, and “cancer” was added to the Hospital´s title.

In 1922, GastroIntestinal Pathology was established at St Mark´s Hospital in London with the appointment of Cuthbert Dukes. Research became an integral part of the hospital´s work. All surgical specimen of rectal cancer were carefully dissected. With the support of HJ Richard Bussey (since 1924), Dukes became a pioneer in staging the spread of rectal cancer: until today, the “Dukes´staging” is popular.

From 1956, Basil Morson has developed Gastrointestinal Pathology as a new subspeciality. In 1972, Morson and Dawson published the first textbook in this field. After his retirement  he was succeeded by Jeremy Jass (from 1986-1990) and Ian Talbot (from 1990).

In 1995, St Mark´s Hospital moved from its time honoured building in East London to Harrow in NorthWest London. There  the former St Mark´s Department of G I Pathology has been merged with the Department of Cellular Pathology of the NorthWest London Hospitals NHS Trust. Ian Talbot teamed up with Ashley Price. They both retired in 2004.

From June 2004 to December 2005, Thomas Günther and me, Axel von Herbay, have continued the distinguished tradition of G I Pathology at St Mark´s Hospital in London.