Old article about independent hospital department (7)
I believe the answer is:
ancient
'old' is the definition.
('ancient' can be similar in meaning to 'old')
'article about independent hospital department' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'about' becomes 'c' (abbreviation for 'circa'**).
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'hospital department' becomes 'ent'.
'an'+'c'+'i'+'ent'='ANCIENT'
(Other definitions for ancient that I've seen before include "Antiquated" , "Prehistoric" , "Historic standard" , "Of times long past" , "Very old, like the poetic mariner" .)