BUCKINGHAM PALACE
 
Buckingham Palace.
18th March 1998.
 
     The Queen, Patron of Guy's Hospital in London, today visited
the hospital to formally open Thomas Guy House. During her visit
The Queen toured the new building and met patients and staff in
various different departments.  Before unveiling a plaque Her
Majesty made a brief speech commemorating her visit in which she
paid tribute to the important role of teaching hospitals:
 
"I am delighted to be with you today to open this splendid new 
building.
 
     It is a special pleasure, because, as some of you in this
audience may remember, I have opened the last two new buildings at
Guy's Hospital;  in 1962 and  in 1974.  I have followed with close
interest the evolution and development of both Guy's and St.
Thomas' over the years and particularly now that they have united
as the Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust, one of the largest
hospital trusts in this country.
 
     It is particularly fitting that as we celebrate the Fiftieth
Anniversary of the National Health Service this year, we reflect
upon the vital major role  teaching hospitals such as Guy's and St.
Thomas' play.  They provide their patients with specialist medical
care; they are home to highly skilled and dedicated hospital staff;
they are at the forefront of medical research; and of course they
train the doctors and nurses of the future.
 
     The realisation of this major project is thanks to the vision,
dedication and the hard work of a very large number of people, some
of whom are here today, and all of whom deserve our heartfelt
thanks and congratulations.  I am confident that their achievement
will encourage everyone who works in this building to aspire to the
same levels of commitment and excellence in all that they do.
 
     It now gives me enormous pleasure to declare Thomas Guy House
open."