Kwong Wah Hospital is a 1,141-bed
Charitable hospital A charitable hospital, or charity hospital, is a non-profit hospital that provides treatment for poor and uninsured people who can't purchase treatment. An example would be St. Jude Children's Hospital that provides assistance to children and funds ...
in
Yau Ma Tei
Yau Ma Tei is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District in the south of the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong.
Name
''Yau Ma Tei'' is a phonetic transliteration of the name (originally written as ) in Cantonese. It can also be spelt as Yaumatei, ...
,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
. Located on 25
Waterloo Road, Kwong Wah Hospital is the main district general hospital was founded by the
Tung Wah Group in 1911, and managed by the
Hospital Authority
The Hospital Authority is a statutory body managing all the government hospitals and institutes in Hong Kong. It is under the governance of its board and is under the monitor of the Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Government. ...
since 1991. It provides a full range of medical services to the population of West Kowloon and Wong Tai Sin. It is
Kowloon West Cluster
Kowloon West Cluster () is the largest among all seven hospital clusters managed by Hospital Authority in Hong Kong. It consists of five public hospitals and 16 general outpatient clinics to provide public healthcare services for the population ...
's major acute teaching hospital, and also a Neurosurgical and Antenatal Diagnosis referral centre. The Hospital has established various clinical centers, including Lai Kwok Wing Urology Centre, Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Centre and Chan Feng Men Ling Cardiac Centre. There are integrated Breast Centre and Dr
Stephen Chow Chun-kay Assisted Reproduction Centre. It has established a Community Based Geriatric Service, Respiratory Care Unit, Acute Stroke Unit, TWGHs BOCHK Diabetes Centre, Wong Wha San Renal Memorial Centre, and a Nuclear Medicine site. Kwong Wah Hospital is also a pioneer in Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine. TWGHs (Tung Wah Group of Hospitals) has established TWGHs Wilson T S Wang Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment Centre in Kwong Wah. The hospital has participated through joint consultation for designated diseases under protocols which developed by both Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine practitioners.
The former Main Hall Building of Kwong Wah Hospital is preserved and houses the
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Museum
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Museum is a museum housed in the former Main Hall Building of Kwong Wah Hospital, located at 25 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Only this building was preserved when Kwong Wah Hospital was re-developed in 1958–19 ...
.
History
Since 1898, after the lease of the
New Territories
The New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory, and contains around half of the population of Hong Kong. Historically, it ...
and its incorporation into
British Hong Kong
Hong Kong was a colony and later a dependent territory of the British Empire from 1841 to 1997, apart from a period of occupation under the Japanese Empire from 1941 to 1945 during the Pacific War. The colonial period began with the Briti ...
, the Han Chinese population living in Kowloon increased rapidly. However, there were no hospitals in Kowloon or the New Territories, patients who require hospital care would have to ferry across to
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an Islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong, island in the southern part of Hong Kong. Known colloquially and on road signs simply as Hong Kong, the island has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km ...
. Chinese philanthropists and physicians, led by
Kai Ho
Sir Kai Ho, CMG, JP, MRCS (; 21 March 1859 – 21 July 1914), better known as Sir Kai Ho Kai, born Ho Shan-kai (), was a Hong Kong barrister, physician and essayist in Colonial Hong Kong. He played a key role in the relationship between ...
, proposed the establishment of a
charitable hospital A charitable hospital, or charity hospital, is a non-profit hospital that provides treatment for poor and uninsured people who can't purchase treatment. An example would be St. Jude Children's Hospital that provides assistance to children and funds ...
to serve the growing Chinese population in the Kowloon area; the hospital's name (''Kwong Wah'', Guangdong
Han Chinese
The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctive va ...
) reflects its mission. The Hong Kong government eventually took up the proposal in 1907 and contributed $139,340 (equivalent to approximately $6 million HKD today) over five years, with the assistance of local charitable organizations, to finish construction of the hospital. The opening ceremony occurred in October 1911. Kwong Wah Hospital was managed by the board of directors of the
Tung Wah Hospital
Tung Wah Hospital is a Charitable hospital in Hong Kong under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. Located above Possession Point, at 12 Po Yan Street in Sheung Wan, it is the first hospital established in Colonial Hong Kong for the general publ ...
.
At the time, much of the Chinese population was skeptical of Western medicine and some even refused Western treatment on their deathbeds; however, the repeated invasion of the
bubonic plague
Bubonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the plague bacterium (''Yersinia pestis''). One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and vomiting, as well a ...
due to globalized trade meant that the Hong Kong government and local physicians were acutely aware of the need to introduce modern Western medicine to the wider population. The Tung Wah hospitals attempted a compromise of adapting from the scientific knowledge and effective methods of Western medicine while also providing traditional Chinese medical care, often as a form of
placebo
A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures.
In general ...
. In 1922, local philanthropists donated $50,580 HKD (equivalent to approximately $2 million HKD today) to set up a specialist Chinese medicine clinic at the Kwong Wah Hospital. Integrated Chinese medical treatment continue to be available to this day.
Like its sister hospital the
Tung Wah Hospital
Tung Wah Hospital is a Charitable hospital in Hong Kong under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. Located above Possession Point, at 12 Po Yan Street in Sheung Wan, it is the first hospital established in Colonial Hong Kong for the general publ ...
, the hospital initially relied on support from local charitable organizations, providing medicine and medical services free of charge to local residents. The hospital ran into funding shortages in its early days due to the relatively low number of wealthy citizens living in the Kowloon area, in contrast to Hong Kong Island. In 1928, local Chinese leaders convinced the
Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, at the time another important local charity, to transfer its assets to the Kwong Wah Hospital.
In 1931, the three hospitals managed separately by the board of the
Tung Wah Hospital
Tung Wah Hospital is a Charitable hospital in Hong Kong under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. Located above Possession Point, at 12 Po Yan Street in Sheung Wan, it is the first hospital established in Colonial Hong Kong for the general publ ...
were reorganized into the
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (), with a history dating back to 1870, is the oldest and largest charitable organisation in Hong Kong. It provides extensive education and community services through 194 service centres spread across Hong Kong.
...
.
With the rapid development of Kowloon after World War II, funding from both local charities and the government has increased significantly, and the hospital has experienced over a dozen reconstruction and expansion projects, developing from a single building of 72 beds initially to its modern-day complex of seven towers with several thousand hospital beds.
The hospital played a major role in the
SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), the first identified strain of the SARS coronavirus species, ''sever ...
epidemic which made its way from
Guangdong
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
province to Hong Kong early in 2003. On 21 February, Liu Jianlun, a 64-year-old Chinese doctor who had treated cases of
SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), the first identified strain of the SARS coronavirus species, ''sever ...
in Guangdong arrived in Hong Kong to attend a wedding. He checked into the Metropole Hotel (the ninth floor - room 911). Although he had developed symptoms on 15 February, he felt well enough to travel, shop, and sight-see with his brother-in-law. On 22 February he sought urgent care at the Kwong Wah Hospital and was admitted to the intensive care unit. He died on 4 March.
About 80% of the Hong Kong cases have been traced back to this doctor. On 25 February, the 53-year-old brother-in-law of the Guangdong doctor came to the Kwong Wah Hospital. He was not admitted that day but his illness worsened, and he was admitted on 1 March. He died on 19 March.
Scope of services
24-Hour Accident and Emergency Service
;Specialties
* Medicine and
Geriatrics
Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term ''geriatrics'' originates from the Greek language, Greek γέρων ''geron'' meaning "old man", and ιατ ...
*
Surgery
Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...
*
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peri ...
*
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...
and
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined are ...
*
Paediatrics
Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until the ...
* Orthopaedics and
Traumatology
In medicine, traumatology (from Greek ''trauma'', meaning injury or wound) is the study of wounds and injuries caused by accidents or violence to a person, and the surgical therapy and repair of the damage. Traumatology is a branch of medicine. I ...
*
Anaesthesia
Anesthesia is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), am ...
& Operating Theatre Services
*
Pathology
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...
* Diagnostic
Radiology
Radiology ( ) is the medical discipline that uses medical imaging to diagnose diseases and guide their treatment, within the bodies of humans and other animals. It began with radiography (which is why its name has a root referring to radiat ...
* Liaison Psychiatry
* Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
* Inpatient
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a medic ...
* Inpatient
Dentistry
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions o ...
;Ambulatory and Allied Health
* General Out-Patient Service
* Specialist Out-Patient Service
* Pharmacy
*
Physiotherapy
Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...
*
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) is a global healthcare profession. It involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or ''occupations'', of individuals, groups, or communities. The field of ...
* Medical Social Service
* Prosthetics and
Orthotics
Orthotics ( el, Ορθός, translit=ortho, lit=to straighten, to align) is a medical specialty that focuses on the design and application of orthoses, or braces. An is "an externally applied device used to influence the structural and functio ...
* Dietetics
*
Podiatry
Podiatry () or podiatric medicine () is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and leg.
A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), or a podiatrist, is a healthcare p ...
*
Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of social science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and persona ...
* Speech Therapy
;Community Services
* Community
Nursing
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...
* Community Geriatric Assessment Team
* Well Women Clinic
(provided by TWGHs))
* TWGHs Integrated Diagnostic & Medical Centre
(provided by TWGHs)
* Chinese Medicine Clinics
(provided by TWGHs)
;Others
* Central Sterile Supplies Department
* Electrodiagnostic Unit
*
Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a procedure used in medicine to look inside the body. The endoscopy procedure uses an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. Unlike many other medical imaging techniques, endoscopes are insert ...
Unit
* Day Surgery
* Prenatal Diagnostic Centre
*
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
* Neurosurgical High Dependency Unit
* Geriatric Day Hospital
* Renal
Dialysis Dialysis may refer to:
*Dialysis (chemistry), a process of separating molecules in solution
**Electrodialysis, used to transport salt ions from one solution to another through an ion-exchange membrane under the influence of an applied electric pote ...
Service
Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine
Kwong Wah Hospital is also provides integrative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine. TWGHs Wilson T S Wang Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment Centre was established by the TWGHs in Kwong Wah Hospital . Through joint consultation for designated diseases under protocols which developed by both Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine practitioners.
Notable people
*
Ma Ying-jeou
Ma Ying-jeou ( zh, 馬英九, born 13 July 1950) is a Hong Kong-born Taiwanese politician who served as president of the Republic of China from 2008 to 2016. Previously, he served as justice minister from 1993 to 1996 and mayor of Taipei from ...
, the former
President of the Republic of China
The president of the Republic of China, now often referred to as the president of Taiwan, is the head of state of the Republic of China (ROC), as well as the commander-in-chief of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The position once had aut ...
, was born in this hospital in 1950. This information is displayed in the Museum of the Hospital.
*
Sita Chan
Sita Chan (, 10 March 1987 – 17 April 2013) was a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. She began her career in 2011, and was a singer under the Sun Entertainment label. Teresa Carpio and Tak Bo Lam were her vocal tutors. Sita became a singer ...
, singer who died in a car accident.
Transportation
MTR
The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is a major public transport network serving :Hong Kong. Operated by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), it consists of heavy rail, light rail, and feeder bus service centred on a 10-line rapid transit network ...
Kwun Tong line
The Kwun Tong line is a heavy-rail rapid transit line of the MTR network in Hong Kong, coloured green on the MTR map. Starting at Whampoa in Hung Hom and ending at Tiu Keng Leng in Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung, the route has 17 stations and ...
and
Tsuen Wan line
The Tsuen Wan line is one of the eleven lines of the metro network in Hong Kong's MTR. It is indicated in red on the MTR map.
There are 16 stations on the line. The southern terminus is Central station on Hong Kong Island and the nor ...
Yau Ma Tei station
Yau Ma Tei, formerly named Waterloo after Waterloo Road, is an MTR station located in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. It is served by the and the . The station opened on 22 December 1979 and was renamed as Yau Ma Tei on 31 May 1985 along with Argyle ...
Exit A2.
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Hospital buildings completed in 1911
Hospitals established in 1911
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Yau Ma Tei
1911 establishments in Hong Kong