This hospital (with x 14 operating theatres) is a major part of the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.
"Services include maternity, gynaecology, neonatal intensive care, emergency, diagnostics, paediatric, surgical, intensive care, coronary care, rehabilitation and mental health.
Also on the Nepean Hospital campus are a Tresillian Family Care Centre, Menopause Service, Nepean Cancer Care Centre, Diabetes Service and the Wentworth Centre for Drug and Alcohol Medicine.
Nepean Hospital is a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney for medical students and also provides nursing and allied health training for many other universities." (Hospital website)
As a Registered Nurse in another Local Health District I was impressed with the friendliness and professionalism I encountered while assisting a relative there.
FROM COTTAGE TO HOSPITAL
1846 - The Penrith and District Dispensary and Benevolent Society was formed to help the less fortunate cope with sickness and old age. (Location of the Dispensary is unknown) It continued in existence until March 1860 when it became known as Penrith Hospital and Benevolent Society.
1854 - "The Society wishes to form a fund for the erection of a building in Penrith as an asylum for invalids and the aged poor". Ref: plaque outside ICU
1855 - The Society resolved to spend £500 from its funds for a hospital provided that the Government would contribute an equal amount. In July the Colonial Treasurer advised that a similar amount was pledged in the estimates for the building of a hospital.
1855 - "Captain Phillip Parker King, RN gave an acre of land situated in Henry Street (now known as Cox Avenue) for the building". Ref: ibid
1856 - "Miss Harriet Heywood when aged twenty rescued a bushranger named Marsden who had been shot. She took him to a hut in Lemongrove where he was nursed back to health. It is believed many others needing medical help were treated in the hut. It is alleged it became known as Nepean Cottage Hospital". ibid
1860 - "Penrith Hospital opened in Henry Street. It was agreed Dr. Willmoft should occupy apartments in the hospital rent free, but unfurnished. There six beds for in-patients. Accommodation for a wardsman and his wife, who between them nursed the patients, cooked the meals, cleaned the hospital and attended to anything else that was required". The hospital continued to operate until early 1871".ibid
1871 - "A proposal that steps be taken for closing of the Penrith Hospital and Benevolent Asylum was carried unanimously. After ten years of providing good care, there was an economic depression and public support fell making it financially impossible to keep the hospital open. Patients then had to be taken by train or on a cart over a rough dirt road to the hospital at Parramatta.
1890 - "In January Mr Samuel Lees (Member for Nepean electorate) sent a circular to all leading residents and heads of families, expressing the need for a district hospital. Mr Lees chaired a meeting to discuss matter. Officers of the Committee were elected. In March 1890 a temporary hospital opened up in a residence owned by Mrs Price, in High St, which was rented for £1 a week. The building Opposite the present day Police Station, is still standing and used for business.
1892 - "December - The Committee accepted an offer from the Hon. P.G. King of 3 acres of land at Lemongrove for £100. A tender of £1,170 to build the hospital was accepted from Mr T.D. Clissold.
1895 - "Nepean Cottage Hospital was officially opened by the President, Mr S Lees (then Mayor of Sydney).
1904 - 1904 The Nepean Cottage Hospital Operating Theatre opened.
1909 - A cottage and grounds adjoining the hospital was purchased from Mr Phillips at a cost of £725 for the accommodation of nursing staff.
1910 - Official opening of new Isolation Wards at Nepean Cottage Hospital.
1923 - Nepean Cottage Hospital renamed and becomes the Nepean District Hospital.
1936 - Nepean District Hospital receives Certificate of Registration as a Training School for General Nurses with a training period of four years.
1937 - A special meeting of the Hospital Board agreed to inform the Minister of Health that the present accommodation was inadequate and the Board was of the opinion a new hospital was required. Public meeting calls for new hospital to be built.
1938 - Department of Health advised a new hospital would be built.
1940 - The Jones' site of 25 acres in Kingswood bounded by the Great Western Highway, Parker, Derby and Somerset Streets was purchased for £550.
1945 - Maxwelton Private Hospital, on the corner of High and Evan Street, Penrith was unable to cope with the increasing number of obstetric cases. Although Nepean District Hospital had no facilities for obstetrics, it was forced to take them. The hospital had to find the money to equip and furnish the unit. An appeal raised £1,000. The Maternity unit was officially opened in January and in March the firsts patients were accepted.
1949 - A tender of £650 for the new building was accepted. A shortage of building supplies and World War II resulted in a delay in construction.
1952 - His Excellency Governor, Lieut. General Sir John Northcott, laid the foundation stone for the new hospital at Kingswood on 30th May.
1956 - "11th May the new Nepean District Hospital is opened by His Excellency Governor, Lieut. General Sir John Northcott. By the June, most of the patients and staff were transferred from the old hospital in Lemongrove to the new hospital in Kingswood.ibid
1967 - The Nurses Registration Board introduced a three years training period.
1972 - Midwifery School of Nursing established, by 1973 there were 11 Midwifery Student Nurses.
1976 - Nursing Education Centre building opens providing for a maximum of sixty students opens.
1973 - 1980 - Hospital continues to expand with extension to buildings, wards and new departments.
1980 - Nepean District Hospital becomes the Nepean Hospital.
1982 - North Block opened with entry from Somerset Street.
1989 - Minister for Health, announced on 27th November 1989 approval to the establishment of the Nepean Hospital as a Teaching Hospital of the University of Sydney. The Minister's announcement called for upgrading of the existing Nepean Hospital to a fully functional Teaching Hospital.
The University of Sydney and the Wentworth Area Health Service sign agreement to establish the Nepean Hospital as a General Teaching Hospital of the University of Sydney from that date.
1991 - On the 8th January the first baby admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
1991 - Pialla 30 bed Psychiatric Unit opened.
1994 - West Block Clinical Services and 4 operating theatres opened.
2003 - Nepean Cancer Care Centre opened providing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative care services.
2007 - The Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre is opened by Premier Morris Iemma on the 30th November.
2009 - The new refurbished Rehabilitation and Aged Care wing in the North Block is opened by Premier Nathan Reece on 28th June.
2010 - A traditional 'Smoking Ceremony' held on 5th March to mark the beginning of work on new East Block - incorporating an additional ICU 'pod' with six new beds, six additional operating theatres, 60 purpose-built surgical beds to replace older style existing wards.