Heart of the City: The Legacy of City Hospital

Born within the very walls he’s documenting, filmmaker Kyle Xay turns his lens on the sprawling heritage of the old Dudley Road Hospital (now City Hospital) to uncover a story of radical care and community defiance.

Far from a dry institutional history, Xay’s film captures the hospital’s evolution from its working-class roots as a direct challenge to the elitist healthcare systems of the past. This is a story of a "People's Hospital," built on a foundational spirit that saw local residents rallying to fund life-saving equipment and staff hosting cricket and football matches to keep the wards running.

The film shines a vital light on the Caribbean diaspora, whose contributions were the backbone of the hospital’s operation, navigating technological shifts and systemic trials with unwavering humanity. Through a moving blend of archival imagery and first-hand accounts—from those who delivered the care to those who received it—the film maps the lived experience of a Birmingham landmark. It’s a powerful, poetic tribute to the hands that kept the heart of Dudley Road beating.

The film features interviews with various people including: Jonathan Reinarz, Alistair Ritch, Judith Morgan, Sara Guthrie, Dave Dixon, and Warren Chapman.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Heritage, Health & Healing is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.