Somerset Hospital (Cape Town)
Encyclopedia
The Somerset Hospital in the Green Point area of Cape Town
, South Africa opened in 1864 and has been declared a national monument.
The hospital replaced one of the same name in Chiapinni Street, which had been founded by Dr Samuel Bailey in 1818 as the first civilian hospital in Cape Town. It was named after Lord Charles Somerset
the governor of the Cape Colony
who gave land for the construction. The Chavonnes Battery
was used as an isolation and convalescent wing.
The cornerstone for the new hospital was laid on 18 August 1859 by the Cape Governor Sir George Grey
. In addition to the appointment of medical staff, nurses were recruited from the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery
, St Thomas' Hospital
in London including Sister Helen Bowden, who in 1877 became
the first fully qualified nurse to be appointed as Matron of Somerset Hospital. Subsequently the hospital established its own nurse training school, becoming the first hospital to train non-white nurses.
From 1918 until 1937, when the Groote Schuur Hospital
opened it was the main academic hospital of the University of Cape Town. A new West Wing opened in 1973 for white patients. The old building was renamed the north wing, not because of their position but the N meant for non-white patients and the W of West Wing signified that it was for Whites. The high incidence of HIV
infections amongst the patients led to the establishment of the hospital as a prime referral centre for the treatment of AIDS
and the first antiretroviral distribution centre was established there in 2005.
Since then various plans have been announced for the development of the grounds including hotels, offices and residential accommodation. The hospital is also home to the Cape Medical Museum.
In 2008 the hospital appealed for funds from local businesses to establish a new trauma unit and a ward for women suffering from a spontaneous miscarriage. In 2010 it opened a new measles
ward following a rise in measles cases in Cape Town. In 2010 a studio was built, along with its own lift, on the top of the hospital for use by BBC
presenters during 2010 FIFA World Cup
matches at the nearby stadium. Also in 2010 plans were announced to move the hospital to a new site in the northern sector of the city, to serve the densely populated West Coast region.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa opened in 1864 and has been declared a national monument.
The hospital replaced one of the same name in Chiapinni Street, which had been founded by Dr Samuel Bailey in 1818 as the first civilian hospital in Cape Town. It was named after Lord Charles Somerset
Lord Charles Somerset
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826.-Background:...
the governor of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
who gave land for the construction. The Chavonnes Battery
Chavonnes Battery
The Chavonnes battery was a fortification protecting Cape Town, South Africa. Built in the early 18th century, it has served many purposes but is now a museum.-History:...
was used as an isolation and convalescent wing.
The cornerstone for the new hospital was laid on 18 August 1859 by the Cape Governor Sir George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
. In addition to the appointment of medical staff, nurses were recruited from the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery
The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery is a school within King's College London. It is primarily concerned with the education of people to become nurses and midwives...
, St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
in London including Sister Helen Bowden, who in 1877 became
the first fully qualified nurse to be appointed as Matron of Somerset Hospital. Subsequently the hospital established its own nurse training school, becoming the first hospital to train non-white nurses.
From 1918 until 1937, when the Groote Schuur Hospital
Groote Schuur Hospital
Groote Schuur Hospital is a large, government-funded, teaching hospital situated on the slopes of Devil's Peak in the city of Cape Town, South Africa...
opened it was the main academic hospital of the University of Cape Town. A new West Wing opened in 1973 for white patients. The old building was renamed the north wing, not because of their position but the N meant for non-white patients and the W of West Wing signified that it was for Whites. The high incidence of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infections amongst the patients led to the establishment of the hospital as a prime referral centre for the treatment of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and the first antiretroviral distribution centre was established there in 2005.
Since then various plans have been announced for the development of the grounds including hotels, offices and residential accommodation. The hospital is also home to the Cape Medical Museum.
In 2008 the hospital appealed for funds from local businesses to establish a new trauma unit and a ward for women suffering from a spontaneous miscarriage. In 2010 it opened a new measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
ward following a rise in measles cases in Cape Town. In 2010 a studio was built, along with its own lift, on the top of the hospital for use by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
presenters during 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
matches at the nearby stadium. Also in 2010 plans were announced to move the hospital to a new site in the northern sector of the city, to serve the densely populated West Coast region.