:	Picture gallery
150 years of Great Ormond Street

The hospital was bombed during the second world war

Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie joined the anniversary party at London's Guildhall.

He said: "Just think of the joy and relief and hope that has been offered to countless families over the years. What a marvellous thing to think of all that commitment going towards making the hospital what it is today.

"Today is a celebration of 150 years of service and dedication, of help for children, of joy for families that have been helped and a reminder for us of how much still has to be done and can be done in the future if we keep that spirit of service and progress."

Great Ormond Street opened its doors officially on February 14, 1852 - and the first patient was George Parr, suffering from catarrh and diarrhoea.

A century and a half later it deals with over 22,000 inpatients and 77,000 outpatients every year.

Latest operations

It specialises in helping children with epilepsy who require brain operations, brain tumour operations and the latest heart surgery techniques for children.

And it has pioneered other ground-breaking techniques in paediatric cancer, juvenile arthritis and HIV in children.

One of the UK's leading experts in conjoined twin separation is based there.

The research "arm" linked to the hospital - the Institute of Child Health - was recently awarded the maximum score by the government for its academic work.

On Thursday, more than 1,000 people will attend a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral for the work of the hospital.

The hospital trust needs millions to continue its work - and raises much of it via fundraising.

However one source of income is its ownership of the rights to the JM Barrie classic "Peter Pan", which it was bequeathed by the author.

Consultant paediatric cardiologist Dr Philip Rees, who has worked for the hospital for 25 years, puts its success down to a "great team spirit and partnership across many medical industries with many unsung heroes".

Dr Rees said: "We try very hard to support people because we realise that this is the most stressful time that families can face.

"The children are going through some procedure that carries risk and danger and we just try to help them get through the difficult time."