Blaze e-catalogue - Catalog - Page 88
The Rachel
Forster
Hospital
1921-2000
Pioneered health
care for women and
children, and career
opportunities for
women doctors
“The work already done has
demonstrated that a hospital
staffed by women doctors
is in the public interest and
serves a definite purpose
in the community.”
NSW State Archives: Department of Public Health;
NRS 4832 [10/43027], 36/264, ‘Dr Biffin’s Committee Report’,
26 November 1925
health
6
In 1921, doctors Harriet Biffin, Lucy Gullett,
Susannah O’Reilly, Constance D’Arcy, Margaret
Harper and Emma Buckley, secured a two-storey
terrace house in Landsdowne Street, Surry
Hills, with their own money to establish a new
hospital for women run by women. Opening its
doors on 3 January 1922, the hospital treated
general diseases of local women and children,
and provided training and clinical experience for
women medical students. Twenty-three honorary
women doctors were employed, and there was
a venereal diseases (VD) clinic for women.
In 1924, over 10,000 patients were treated
at the hospital. Needing bigger premises,
the committee purchased Clyde House in
Redfern as a temporary facility. On 22 August
1925, a new purpose built hospital—The Rachel
Forster Hospital for Women and Children—was
opened with Dr Julia Amphlett its first Resident
Medical Officer. In March 1928, a new, larger VD
clinic built by the NSW Board of Health opened
under the direction of Dr Elsie Dalyell.
In 1930, the Hospital was gazetted under the
Public Hospitals Act, 1929. This was the start
of a new era for The Rachel Forster Hospital for
Women, which continued to operate until
7 September 2000 when its doors were closed
for the last time and services transferred to Royal
Prince Alfred Hospital.
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