Balmain Hospital

Balmain Hospital (formerly Balmain Cottage Hospital and Balmain District Hospital) is a public hospital in the suburb of Balmain in Sydney, Australia.[1][2] It was founded in 1885 and provides outpatient, rehabilitation, aged care and general practice/casualty services.[1]

Balmain Hospital
Sydney Local Health District
Balmain Hospital main building, 2011
Geography
LocationBooth Street, Balmain, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates33.8596702°S 151.1831414°E / -33.8596702; 151.1831414
Organisation
Care systemMedicare (Australia)
FundingPublic hospital
TypeSpecialist
NetworkNSW Health
Services
Emergency departmentYes - 08:00am to 10:00pm
Beds98
SpecialityGeriatric Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
History
Former name(s)Balmain District Hospital
Balmain Cottage Hospital
Opened1885 (1885)
Links
Websitewww.slhd.nsw.gov.au/balmain

The hospital commenced operation in 1885 in an adapted cottage, which survives as the hospital's administration building and is now heritage listed. A series of additions and new buildings occurred throughout its early decades: a new wing (the Evans Ward) opened in March 1890, a new outpatient, women's and children's wing (the Victoria Ward) opened in September 1901, it underwent major refurbishment in 1908 and a new children's ward opened in September 1924.[3][4][5][2]

It expanded significantly in the 1920s, increasing from 40 beds to 120 beds and experiencing a doubling of treated patients.[6] Complaints about run-down, overcrowded and otherwise poor hospital facilities were common through the late 1920s and into the 1930s.[7][8][9] New women's and children's wards opened in 1935 and new nurses quarters' (Stacey House) in 1937.[10][11][12] A major new four-storey building, Thornton House, was added in 1943.[13]

The hospital underwent a significant downgrade and refocus c. 1993, with the closure of the emergency department and change in focus to provide primarily for aged care and rehabilitation, though a new casualty department opened shortly afterwards to deal with remaining unmet need.[14]

The Balmain Hospital Main Building is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register.[15]

References
  1. "Balmain Hospital". Sydney Local Health District. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  2. "BALMAIN HOSPITAL". Evening News. No. 12, 667. New South Wales, Australia. 15 January 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Balmain Hospital 130th Anniversary 1885 – 2015" (PDF). Sydney Local Health District. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  4. "BALMAIN COTTAGE HOSPITAL". The Australian Star. No. 2835. New South Wales, Australia. 8 March 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "BALMAIN HOSPITAL". The Daily Telegraph. No. 13, 975. New South Wales, Australia. 22 September 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "BALMAIN HOSPITAL". The Labor Daily. No. 676. New South Wales, Australia. 23 March 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "'WHISKERED' WALLS". The Daily Telegraph. No. 14, 833. New South Wales, Australia. 24 June 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "TOO CROWDED". The Sun. No. 5366. New South Wales, Australia. 19 January 1928. p. 16 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "BALMAIN HOSPITAL". The Sun. No. 5478. New South Wales, Australia. 30 May 1928. p. 3 (LAST RACE FOOTBALL). Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "New Wards at Balmain Hospital". The Sun. No. 1671. New South Wales, Australia. 7 April 1935. p. 30. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "NEW BUILDING AT HOSPITAL". The Sun. No. 8393. New South Wales, Australia. 26 November 1936. p. 28 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "HOSPITALS ARE POPULAR". The Sun. No. 8543. New South Wales, Australia. 22 May 1937. p. 2 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "NEW HOSPITAL BUILDING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 33, 030. New South Wales, Australia. 5 November 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 26 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Compliance of hand washing practices: Theory versus practice". Australian Health Review. 1998. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.630.3901.
  15. "Balmain Hospital - Main Building". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00814. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
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