Princess Margaret Hospital perches on top of Lai King Hill for 50 years to safeguard public health
Since its establishment in 1975, Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) has walked with residents in the Kowloon West District. For half a century, PMH colleagues have been safeguarding the community health and standing on the frontline battling against several major epidemics. At the same time, it has always enhanced healthcare services with the most innovative technologies to continue to provide the best care for patients. PMH reviewed its milestones through the history wall which is now exhibited in the lobby of Main Block. The cartoon ‘Little PMH’ (shown above) is designed to introduce the key milestones of PMH in celebration of its golden jubilee. His styling changes over time. He leveled up from a newborn baby to an energetic young man. Then, he evolved into a mature anti-pandemic hero and a technology expert equipped with the most advanced electronic devices. ‘Little PMH’, who braves the wind and waves, will continue to protect public health.
1975 Establishment of PMH
PMH planned to be a rehabilitation hospital. As numerous Vietnamese boat people stampeded to Hong Kong, PMH was assigned with an emergency mission to quarantine the boat people, establishing PMH’s position of specialising in managing infectious diseases in Hong Kong. PMH later took over the duties of the former Lai Chi Kok Hospital to receive infectious disease patients from all over Hong Kong and handled the spreads of hepatitis A and cholera in the 1970s and 80s.
From 1980s - 1990s Handling major incidents
Due to the development of factory clusters and new towns of Hong Kong, accidents happened more frequently. PMH took the responsibilities to care for victims of major incidents in the area, including an explosion at the Cipel-Marco factory in Kwai Chung and a fire at Mei Foo Sun Chuen. Since the relocation of Hong Kong International Airport to Chek Lap Kok, PMH has been the first-tier hospital to receive the airport casualties.
2003 100 days of SARS
With the establishment of Kowloon West Cluster in 2002, PMH has become the leading hospital of the cluster. It was the designated hospital for SARS patients in 2003 and had handled one-third of all SARS patients in Hong Kong. After the commencement of Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre in 2007, PMH has been responsible for receiving the first batch of suspected and diagnosed patients in the face of major infectious disease, including COVID-19.
2010s Pioneer of digitalisation
PMH became the first public hospital to adopt large-scale Filmless Operation System, promote digitalisation of radiology images and enhance healthcare delivery. It also worked hand in hand with Hospital Authority Head Office and developed In-Patient Medication Order Entry (IPMOE) system to improve medication safety. The first Integrated Neurological Rehabilitation Centre in Hong Kong was established by PMH in 2014, equipped with advanced technologies, e.g. virtual reality technology and transcranial magnetic stimulation to improve patient recovery.