Where is St Bart's in London? Is it an NHS hospital, what does it specialise in - and why is Prince Philip there?

On March 1 the Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London on Monday.

The Queen’s husband, 99, was said to be “comfortable” after his arrival, having spent the previous 13 nights at the King Edward VII’s Hospital in Marylebone.

An internationally renowned hospital St Bartholomew’s is home to a specialised cardiovascular service and a centre of excellence for both cardiac and cancer care

What have the Royal Family said about Prince Philip’s condition?

Buckingham Palace gave an update on Prince Philip’s condition on Monday.

It read: “The Duke of Edinburgh was today transferred from King Edward VII’s Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition.

“The duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.”

The duke was initially admitted nearly two weeks ago on February 16 for a few days as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell. A week later, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen’s consort was being treated for an infection.

The statement read: “The Duke of Edinburgh remains at King Edward VII’s Hospital where he is receiving medical attention for an infection.

“He is comfortable and responding to treatment but is not expected to leave hospital for several days.”

The Prince’s son the Earl of Wessex provided an updated on his condition on February 23.

He said: “He’s a lot better, thank you very much indeed and he’s looking forward to getting out, which is the most positive thing so we keep our fingers crossed.”

Where is St Bartholomew’s Hospital?

St Bartholomew’s Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, is in the City of London close to St Paul’s Cathedral, and is Britain’s oldest hospital.

What is the hospital known for?

The hospital is home to a specialist cardiovascular centre.

Barts Heart Centre, based in the hospital’s state-of-the-art King George V building, is Europe’s largest specialised cardiovascular centre, according to the NHS website.

A specialist heart attack centre delivers dedicated emergency care 24 hours a day, with rapid access to a team with specialist expertise and equipment.

In January 2020 the service was rated number one for cardiac arrest survival rates in London, according to the NHS website.

The website says St Bartholomew’s is Britain’s oldest hospital, set to celebrate its 900th birthday in 2023.

The hospital is the first meeting place of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in Arthur Conan Doyle's 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet.