I must say I was very impressed with the rapid response by Nairobi Hospital’s Galleria branch who wheeled me to their emergency centre on a trolley over the Tarmac road near the scene of the accident.
Due to the large exodus of Europeans at the time, the hospital’s patient population plummeted to record lows. Nonetheless, a new class of wealthy Africans was emerging and they quickly filled the gap.
Nairobi Hospital immediately became a status symbol for the high and mighty.
An automated park and pay car park has recently been completed at the main hospital, greatly enhancing security and reducing traffic congestion at the facility.
This week I am writing from the comfort of my invalid bed at The Nairobi Hospital following a road traffic accident last week on Thursday.
I suffered a broken tibia and fibula on my left leg in yet another case of reckless driving on our Kenyan roads. I am healing well, but it will take some six weeks before I can put any weight on the injured leg.
I must say I was very impressed with the rapid response by Nairobi Hospital’s Galleria branch who wheeled me to their emergency centre on a trolley over the Tarmac road near the scene of the accident.
It was dramatic as one side of the carriageway had to be closed off briefly to allow me through giving me my one moment of fame.
The first hospitals in Kenya were built around mission stations, gradually introducing western medicine to replace traditional African practices which were demonised by the incoming settlers.
The Native Civil Hospital (today’s Kenyatta National Hospital) with a bed capacity of forty was established in 1901, for Africans, in the Nairobi Hill area of Nairobi.
During World War 1 larger hospitals were established to meet the needs of the military forces.
Up to the mid-1930’s Nairobi had built several peripheral dispensaries, a European Hospital for white civil servants, a native hospital with an Asian wing and a few private Nursing Homes for the settlers.
After the War, the colonial government built the King George V1 Hospital with a 600 bed capacity for Africans, adding a larger wing for Asians; the funds for this portion coming directly from the Asian community.
The European Hospital was also expanded, but could not meet the demands of post-war flood of immigrants.
In the event, the Government established a scheme for the enlargement of many social amenities such as hospitals and schools along racial lines. Subsequently, the Nairobi European Hospital Association was founded to oversee the funds set aside for hospital services.
The Nairobi European Hospital Association purchased the existing Maia Carberry Nursing Home (later to be known as Kenya School of Law) and built the Princess Elizabeth Hospital (now Government Dental School).
The Princess Elizabeth Hospital School was opened in 1952, but due to increased demand and the imminent closure of the old Government European Hospital the old Polo grounds across on Hurlingham Road were acquired for the construction of a new and modern hospital known as European Hospital.
The Cicely McDonnell School of Nursing, named after a pioneer nurse, was established at around the same time.
Built to a neo-classical modern architectural design by Hughes and Polkinghorne, the European Hospital was opened in 1956 for the exclusive use of Europeans. The hospital was to provide first class health services in the East African region.
Following Kenya’s independence in 1963, the name was changed to “ The Nairobi Hospital” and non-Europeans were admitted to reflect the times. Due to the large exodus of Europeans at the time, the hospital’s patient population plummeted to record lows. Nonetheless, a new class of wealthy Africans was emerging and they quickly filled the gap.
Nairobi Hospital immediately became a status symbol for the high and mighty.
At the height of the coffee boom in the late 1970’s one illiterate, but wealthy Kikuyu gentleman was known to book himself and his two wives into the prestigious North Wing of Nairobi Hospital for one week in order to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of life in the city!
The management of the hospital falls under the aegis of The Kenya Hospital Association (successors to the Nairobi European Hospital Association), a membership body.
Customer Satisfaction
By 2001, Nairobi Hospital was providing world-class healthcare services to people of all classes.
However, it was clear that hospital’s information technology was lagging behind in a rapidly evolving environment. Competition from other similar private institutions had also intensified.
In 2003, the hospital embarked on a new six-year business strategic plan whose backbone was a modern information technology platform.
Today the Nairobi Hospital boasts state-of- the- art information technology and management systems run by highly trained personnel providing unparalleled customer satisfaction.
An automated park and pay car park has recently been completed at the main hospital, greatly enhancing security and reducing traffic congestion at the facility.
In line with current practice Nairobi Hospital has recently opened two outpatient branches at Galleria Mall Karen/Langata, Warwick Market Gigiri, while two others are planned at Syokimau and Rosslyn Riviera Mall.
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