there was no lupus specialist available at hospital.

[Alexey86]

1) She could not recall the attack when questioned after surgery at hospital. (timesunion.com)
2) Due to complications, including a 5 day labour, she had to have a C Section at hospital. (guardian.co.uk)
3) As it was a weekend, there was no lupus specialist available at hospital. (thisislondon.co.uk)

Questions:
1) Why is the omitted?
2) In what context would you prefer using at hospital?

 

[jutfrank]

Those are all British English. We don't use the in this kind of context.

 

[Alexey86]

We don't use the in this kind of context.

What kind of context is that? I've read a number of discussions on the topic and some BrE native speakers say they've never heard or used at hospital. In hospital, yes, but not at hospital.

 

[5jj]

I find none of the three natural. I'd use at/in the hospital.

 

[Alexey86]

I find none of the three natural. I'd use at/in the hospital.

Can you think of any context where at hospital would be natural?

 

[5jj]

No.

 

[jutfrank]

at hospital sounds fine to me in its proper context. Here's another natural example of use, from NHS England:

Your stay at hospital

As an inpatient we want your stay at hospital to be a pleasant one. If you need to stay in one of our hospitals for treatment or a procedure these pages will help you prepare for your visit.

 

[Alexey86]

Here's an example of in hospital from another NHS site:


Does it differ from at hospital in meaning? Could it be that your stay in hospital has a more narrow sense of one being in the building and receiving medical treatment, whereas at hospital has a wider sense and includes all services the hospital provides?

 

[5jj]

I would use only 'in hospital'. Clearly there are speakers of BrE who say 'at hospital'; I am not one of them.

 

[Tdol]

What NHS England uses and The Guardian are not one and the same to me. I'm happy with articles being dropped in professional circles - WHO, CIA are widely used in those circles- but I would prefer my newspaper to say the WHO, etc.

 

[Tarheel]

Two things. One, I'm okay with WHO. (It's like NASA.) Two, I forgot what the second thing was. ;-)

 

[Alexey86]

What NHS England uses and The Guardian are not one and the same to me.

Would you elaborate please?

 

[Tarheel]

The Guardian is geared to a general audience. The NHS is geared to medicine.

 

[Alexey86]

The Guardian is geared to a general audience. The NHS is geared to medicine.

If you follow jutfrank's link, you'll see that the information on that particular page is addressed to a general audience (potential patients)

 

[Alexey86]

Does at hospital sound natural in the following dialog:
- He'll be fine.
- How do you know?
- That's what they say at hospital.

 

[jutfrank]

Does it differ from at hospital in meaning? Could it be that your stay in hospital has a more narrow sense of one being in the building and receiving medical treatment, whereas at hospital has a wider sense and includes all services the hospital provides?

Yes, I think that's right.

 

[5jj]

Yes, I think that's right.

I don't. This is simply one of those situations when native speakers differ in how they feel about certain phrases.

 

[Alexey86]

I don't. This is simply one of those situations when native speakers differ in how they feel about certain phrases.

What do you think of at hospital my dialog above? Does it also sound unnatural? Would in hospital sound OK, or only in/at the hospital would fit?

 

[5jj]

I would say at the hospital in your dialogue in post 15.

 

[probus]

I think that in the hospital is the standard phrase in AmE but in Canada we sometimes use in hospital. We never use at hospital.