100 Years of Wellington Children's Hospital
The Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae launched Wellington Children's Hospital centenary year with a special visit to the children's hospital on 12th March.
Their Excellencies spent time talking with all the sick children who were in hospital at the time.
"There can be no more obvious reflection of a community, and of a country, than the way in which its children are cared for, in a place like this hospital." Sir Jerry said.
Sir Jerry and Lady Janine cut a centenary cake with Dr Andrew Marshall looking on (pictured below).
Wellington Children's Hospital is looking for one hundred stories for one hundred years to celebrate this important part of history.
1912 - KING EDWARD VII MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
Wellington Children's Hospital, originally known as 'King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Children', was the first dedicated children's hospital in New Zealand. It opened on 13th March 1912.
The community have walked alongside the hospital since its inception. In 1910 a large public fundraising appeal, combined with a govermment building subsidy, lead to a surplus funds follow the construction of the new building. With the surplus, the community purchased the set of 18 Royal Doulton Nursery Rhyme Tiles that still adorn the hospital today.
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Children, 1912
2012 - WELLINGTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
100 years later, the community are still a major part of the hospital, with hundreds of volunteers and donors supporting our children every year.
The Child Health service in the greater Wellington region now receives more than 32,000 visits every year by sick children from as far north as Hawke's Bay, across to Taranaki and south to Nelson/Marlborough.
Wellington Children's Hospital includes:
- Maternity and Delivery at Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals and the Kapiti Health Centre
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- 2 inpatient wards (Wards 18 & 19)
- A Paediatric Oncology Day Stay Unit
- Puketiro Centre at Kenepuru Hospital for physical, emotionally and mentally disabled children
- Outpatient departments in Kenepuru and Wellington Hospital (over 20,000 visits a year)
- Paediatric operating theatres and surgical recovery at Kenepuru and Wellington Hospital
- Paediatric Radiology services
- Emergency Department, Accident & Medical Centre and Child Acute Assessment Unit
THE ROYAL DOULTON TILES AND WELLINGTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
For 100 years the Royal Doulton Tiles at Wellington Children's Hospital have been providing enjoyment to many generations of patients and their families.
This special collection of "Tiles" is famous worldwide. In 1989 when Wellington Children's Hospital (then known as the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Children) was demolished, it was feared that the "Tiles" would be disregarded as old fashion and from some quarters "not PC". But a band of enthusiasts convinced the then Hospital Board to save the "Tiles" and preserve them for future generations - what foresight!
In 1989 the Wellington Hospital Mural Preservation Trust began a fundraising appeal to save the "Tiles" And over the years a sum of $71,000 was raised. This team of valiant workers included Lady Keith, John Nelson, Murray Jensen, Vera Ellen, Elizabeth Harper and Christopher Rees.
Eight of the "Tiles" were installed in the new Children's Hospital when it was built in 1989 and 10 were put into storage. In 2006 the Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation took over the work of the Preservation Trust and with the help of The Community Trust of Wellington the remaining "Tiles" were installed in the new Regional Hospital in 2009.
The Doulton Tiles in their original placement in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Children
