| Balmain Hospital | |
| Former-Names: | Balmain District Hospital Balmain Cottage Hospital |
| Org/Group: | Sydney Local Health District |
| Coordinates: | -33.8597°N 151.1831°W |
| Location: | Booth Street |
| Region: | Balmain |
| State: | New South Wales |
| Country: | Australia |
| Healthcare: | Medicare (Australia) |
| Funding: | Public |
| Type: | Specialist |
| Network: | NSW Health |
| Emergency: | Yes - 08:00am to 10:00pm |
| Beds: | 98 |
| Speciality: | Geriatric Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
Balmain Hospital (formerly Balmain Cottage Hospital and Balmain District Hospital) is a public hospital in the suburb of Balmain in Sydney, Australia.[1] It was founded in 1885 and provides outpatient, rehabilitation, aged care and general practice/casualty services.[2]
The hospital commenced operation in 1885 in an adapted cottage, which survives as the hospital's administration building and is now heritage listed. A series of additions and new buildings occurred throughout its early decades: a new wing (the Evans Ward) opened in March 1890, a new outpatient, women's and children's wing (the Victoria Ward) opened in September 1901, it underwent major refurbishment in 1908 and a new children's ward opened in September 1924.[3] [4] [5] [1]
It expanded significantly in the 1920s, increasing from 40 beds to 120 beds and experiencing a doubling of treated patients.[6] Complaints about run-down, overcrowded and otherwise poor hospital facilities were common through the late 1920s and into the 1930s.[7] [8] [9] New women's and children's wards opened in 1935 and new nurses quarters' (Stacey House) in 1937.[10] [11] [12] A major new four-storey building, Thornton House, was added in 1943.[13]
The hospital underwent a significant downgrade and refocus 1993, with the closure of the emergency department and change in focus to provide primarily for aged care and rehabilitation, though a new casualty department opened shortly afterwards to deal with remaining unmet need.[14]
The Balmain Hospital Main Building is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register.[15]