Landspítali Explained

Landspítali
Location:Hringbraut 101
Region:Reykjavík
Funding:Public
Type:General
Speciality:Teaching
Emergency:Yes
Helipad:Yes
Affiliation:University of Iceland
Beds:612
Founded:20 December 1930 (original)
16 May 2000 (merger)
Website:

The Landspítali – The National University Hospital of Iceland (Icelandic: Landspítali – Háskólasjúkrahús) offers a wide range of clinical services in outpatient clinics, day patient units, inpatient wards, clinical laboratories and other divisions. Landspítalinn also operates the psychiatric hospital Kleppur.

History

The original Landspítali began operations on 20 December 1930. Ideas for a hospital that served the whole country was not new; in 1863, Jón Hjaltalín, the then Director of Health, proposed a bill that would establish such a hospital, but the bill was not voted on.

During the period from 1863 to 1930, several hospitals operated in Reykjavík. The founding of Landspítali was the product of a long, hard struggle in which women were at the forefront and have ever since played a huge role in the country's hospital matters.[1] In 2000, the Reykjavik City Hospital merged with Landspítali, and the new merged hospital was renamed as Landspítali University Hospital (Landspítali háskólasjúkrahús; LSH) until it reverted to its original name in 2007.

Approximately 70% of Icelandic children are born in the hospital.[2] This was also the very place where Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest chess players of all time, died.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ágrip af sögu Landspítalans 1930 - 1998. Landspítalinn. 25 March 2017.
  2. News: "What kind of society do you want to live in?": Inside the country where Down syndrome is disappearing . . "Babies with Down syndrome are still being born in Iceland," said Hulda Hjartardottir, head of the Prenatal Diagnosis Unit at Landspitali University Hospital, where around 70 percent of Icelandic children are born. . August 15, 2017.