The John Taylor and Sons Company with the co-operation of the O’Donnell brothers, Dr T J O’Donnell and J D O’Donnell, established a well equipped hospital in 1880, to cater to the medical needs and emergencies of the miners and their families. It was centrally located in Champion Reefs. Dr T J O’Donnell was the first Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital and served as the CMO for more than 25 years.
Dr. Rowntree and Dr. Ffrench then worked in the Mining Hopsital as the Chief Medical Officer and Assistant C M O respectively. This is a photograph of Drs. Rowntree and Ffrench in 1952.
The hospital was staffed with eminent British and Indian doctors and British and Anglo-Indian nurses.
The hospital wards were named after the erstwhile British bosses such as Gideon Ward, Henry’s Ward, Morgan ward, etc.. Medical Treatment was provided free of cost for the miners and their families. A well maintained Maternity Unit was also later established in a separate wing of the Hospital.
I was born in this Rountrees Hospital K G F in 1944
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