Pok Oi Hospital

Pok Oi Hospital (Chinese: 博愛醫院; Cantonese Yale: Bok'oi Yīyún) is a major hospital in Hong Kong, serving the northwest New Territories. Located in Au Tau in Yuen Long, it was founded by residents in 1919 when Yuen Long was a still rural town. The hospital later became a charity organisation, and extended its services to include schools, homes for the elderly, social welfare and other areas.

Pok Oi Hospital
Hospital Authority and the board of directors of Pok Oi Hospital
Location within Hong Kong
Geography
LocationAu Tau, Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong
Coordinates22°26′43″N 114°02′29″E
Organisation
FundingPublic hospital
TypeDistrict
NetworkNew Territories West Cluster
Services
Emergency departmentYes, 24-hour Accident and Emergency
Beds795[1]
HelipadNo
History
Opened1919 (1919)
Links
Websitewww.ha.org.hk/poh/
ListsHospitals in Hong Kong

The hospital is now funded and managed by the charity and Hospital Authority.

History

A local shop owner, Wong Shu-kiu, reportedly conceived the hospital idea in 1913, and a village elder supported it.[2] The hospital opened in 1919 as a "small dispensary and sick bay".[3] The facility, which cost HK$3500 to build, provided free medical services and burials.[2]

The hospital was closed during the Japanese occupation. It was reopened by Governor Alexander Grantham on 17 November 1951.[2][4] By 1954, the hospital offered 30 beds.[5]

On 19 January 1961, Governor Robert Black formally opened a new wing at the hospital. The expansion provided 70 new beds and added the hospital's first operating theatre, a new laboratory, and an x-ray suite.[6] An out-patient department, initially housed in a new two-storey building, was opened on 22 January 1965.[7] Construction of a further expansion, built at a cost of about HK$1.5 million, was begun in 1966.[3] By 1974 the hospital had grown to 162 beds.[8]

Yuen Long was developed into a new town in the late 1970s and 1980s, growing substantially in population during those years. The Pok Oi Hospital accordingly saw a five-phase expansion programme throughout the 1980s.[9] On 27 March 1984 a major part of the second phase of the expansion was completed, with five new storeys added to the central block, contributing 113 more beds (for a total of 331) and another operating theatre. This addition cost HK$21 million.[10] Pok Oi Hospital remained the only general hospital in the northwestern New Territories until the delayed opening of Tuen Mun Hospital in 1990.

Tin Shui Wai New Town was developed nearby in the 1990s, increasing the burden on Pok Oi Hospital. There was some debate as to whether to expand Pok Oi Hospital or build Tin Shui Wai a hospital of its own. The government announced the redevelopment of Pok Oi Hospital in 1998, enlarging and modernising it. It was substantially rebuilt to a design similar to that of the earlier Tseung Kwan O Hospital. The redevelopment was completed in March 2007.[11] Following strong demand from Tin Shui Wai residents, the Tin Shui Wai Hospital was constructed, and opened in 2017, reducing the burden on Pok Oi Hospital.

To celebrate the centenary of the hospital, Hongkong Post issued a set of commemorative postage stamps on 2 April 2019.[12]

Facilities

As of 31 March 2019, Pok Oi Hospital had 795 beds.[1]

Transport

The hospital is within walking distance of Yuen Long Station, on the West Rail Line, as well as Yuen Long Stop of the light rail system. It is also served by public buses and minibuses.

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See also

References
  1. "Hospital Authority Annual Report 2018-2019" (PDF). Hospital Authority. 2019.
  2. "The Pok Oi Hospital: Built in Yuen Long 40 years ago". South China Morning Post. 19 July 1958. p. 8.
  3. "Extensions to Pok Oi Hospital". South China Morning Post. 22 February 1966. p. 5.
  4. "Pok Oi Hospital". South China Morning Post. 10 November 1951. p. 4.
  5. "Hong Kong Hansard". The Legislative Council Library. Hong Kong: Legislative Council. 17 March 1954. p. 59.
  6. "Governor opens new Pok Oi Hospital wing". South China Morning Post. 20 January 1961. p. 8.
  7. "Hospital's out-patient department opened". South China Morning Post. 23 January 1965. p. 6.
  8. "Governor shows concern". South China Morning Post. 16 April 1974. p. 24.
  9. Chiu, Kit-ying (13 June 1985). "Hospital gets 52 per cent increase in building aid". South China Morning Post. p. 16.
  10. "Yuen Long hospital adds five storeys". South China Morning Post. 28 March 1984. p. 21.
  11. "Facilities". Pok Oi Hospital. Hospital Authority.
  12. "Hongkong Post to issue "Centenary of Pok Oi Hospital" special stamps (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 18 March 2019.
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