WINGECARRIBEE HEALTH SERVICE
Bowral District Hospital & Community Health Service

HISTORY

The Berrima District cottage Hospital was opened on 4^th September 1889. In the early 1900's the hospital administrator's purchased land adjacent to the hospital, resulting in the current area which is bound by Bowral Street and Mona, Ascot and Sheffield roads.

The hospital progressively expanded until 1928, providing more patient accommodation, a fever ward, operating theatre, staff accommodation, x-ray facilities and a 19 bed isolation ward.

In 1935 a new hospital known as the Berrima District hospital facing Mona road was opened. The new hospital contained 39 beds, operating room, x-ray, casualty, kitchen, laundry, store and boiler house. The original hospital was converted into nurse's quarters. In 1938 an additional 20 bed public ward was opened, bringing the total number of beds to 85.

In 1954 Tyler House, a new nurse's home containing 72 single rooms and a flat for the Matron was opened. The original hospital was used as a general storage area and was later converted to provide education facilities for the hospital as well as two self-contained units for resident medical officers.

In 1961 the hospital underwent considerable upgrading. The Milton Park Wing was built containing 17 maternity beds on the ground floor, 14 paediatric, 3 private and 24 intermediate beds on the first floor and delivery suite, operating theatre suite and central sterile supply department on the second floor. Support areas including the kitchen, laundry, boiler house and staff dining room was upgraded.

The relocation of facilities to the Milton Park Wing resulted in changes in the location of facilities in the main hospital. The private and intermediate beds were closed and converted into a x-ray and pathology section. The area vacated by the operating room. These conversions were completed in 1965.

The name of the hospital again changed in 1968 to the Bowral & District Hospital.

In 1970 the isolation unit was converted to the Watson Rehabilitation Centre. The establishment of a day activity centre in this building was the impetus, which resulted in the appointment of the first of the domiciliary nurse and the provision of physiotherapy and occupational therapy areas.

The community's involvement in the hospital has always been evident. The support the hospital has received from its auxiliaries, service clubs and the community in general has made possible the purchase of many items of equipment as well as contributing to some structural alterations and refurbishing.

The community support was highlighted in 1978 with the opening of the high dependency ward or special nursing unit. The unit was located adjacent to the operating theatre suite in an area vacated by the delivery suite, which was relocated in an unused ward area of the Maternity unit. The auxiliaries and community provided all the funds for the structural alterations and the equipping of the special Nursing Unit.

The staffing of the Special Nursing Unit was dependent on the hospital close some of its ward areas. To better provide utilisation of its resources, the Board of directors closed Alcorn Ward and refurbished Yeoman Ward. The Children's Ward was reduced to ten bed and a six bed annexe for day only patients was provided in the unused section of the Children's Ward.

In 1983 changes were made within the administration block. The executive suite was moved from the ground floor to the first floor, and pathology and x-ray were moved to the ground floor adjacent to an expanded pharmacy.

One of the original hospital buildings was refurbished to provide an outpatients service for occupational therapy, speech therapy, dental clinic and podiatry clinic.

A major addition to the hospital had been the Cardiac Assessment Unit, which was opened by the then Minister for Health on 17 August 1985. The unit was constructed on the western side of Watson Rehabilitation Centre where the verandah previously existed.

The building was funded under the Community Employment Program, however, the equipping of the unit was entirely funded by an extensive community fund raising program which raised in excess of $170,000.

In 1985 the old gardener's sheds at the rear of the original hospital were demolished and a staff amenities block built on the site, thus providing toilets and ablutions for male and female staff, plus common kitchen and recreational area and equipment.

In October 1986 the responsibility for the Community Health was transferred to the Board of Directors of the hospital. Over the past few years there has been a significant expansion in the services provided, for example, Needle/Syringe Exchange, Women's Health, Drug & Alcohol Services.

In December 1986 renovations to the Accident and Emergency department were completed. This work provided an all weather ambulance entrance to the department plus new nurse's station.

During 1986-7 considerable renovations were made within the maternity ward. These were initially involved in the upgrading of existing labour wards and the provision of a low risk delivery room and family lounge and toilet plus improved storage. This work also required relocation of the medical records department to the first floor of the administration block and the hospital's auxiliary to Tyler House nurse's home.

Utility rooms within the general ward and nursery area were reassigned and structurally altered to provide a baby bathing room, mothers room, staff tea room, three additional toilets and one additional patient shower. The work concluded with the upgrading of the nursery and the general corridor.

Following an initial approach from Bowral Apex Club, a temporary accommodation unit consisting of four motel-type, two bed units were completed in 1988. The units are self-contained with the exception of laundry facilities, which are available in a common laundry at the western end of the block. A garage also constructed at the same end is used for general storage.

Children's Ward and Milton Park Annexe were closed to allow for refurbishment of the whole area and it re-opened as part of Milton Ward.

The Yeoman Ward was refurbished as a seven bed short stay ward and a ten bed children's Ward.

During 1990-91 the old hospital was extensively renovated and decorated in a style sympathetic to former times. It is now used as office accommodation, Board Room and Lecture facilities.

In 1994 further refurbishment continued of the Maternity Unit. Patients in Watson were moved to an enlarged Milton Park Ward. Watson has been refurbished and now accommodates allied health professionals.

In 1994 the Hospital & Community Health Service, now known as the Wingecarribee Health Service joined the South Western Sydney Area Health Service whose head office is located in Liverpool.

The organisation has undergone significant development in recent times. In late 1994 work commenced on the building of the new Southern Highlands Private hospital located within the grounds.

In the middle of 1995 work commenced on the construction of a new Emergency Department and shortly after construction on a new Medical Imaging Department privately owned but designed to service the public hospital as well.

In line with the rationalisation and development of services the Pathology Service has been incorporated into the South West Area Pathology Services.

 

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