Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Margaret Hospital |
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A view of the hospital
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| Geography | |
| Location | Christchurch, Canterbury Region, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°34′16″S 172°37′12″E / 43.571°S 172.62°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Health NZ |
| Funding | Government hospital |
| Hospital type | General |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No |
| History | |
| Founded | 31 August 1959 |
Princess Margaret Hospital is a public hospital located in Christchurch, New Zealand. A public hospital means it's funded by the government and helps everyone. It is managed by Health NZ, which looks after healthcare in the Canterbury area.
A Look Back: History of the Hospital
The hospital first opened its doors on 31 August 1959. It was originally a general hospital, meaning it treated all kinds of illnesses. Today, it mainly helps older people with their health and provides mental health services. Mental health services help people with their thoughts, feelings, and well-being. The hospital is built near the Port Hills, in the Cashmere area.
The hospital was named after Princess Margaret. She was the sister of Queen Elizabeth II.
The land for the hospital was bought from the Cracroft Wilson family. The buildings were designed by architects Seward and Stanton from Christchurch. Charles Luney was the person in charge of building it. The hospital was officially opened by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham. A Governor-General is the King's representative in a country like New Zealand.
At one time, people thought this hospital might become the main hospital for Christchurch. However, it was decided that it was too far from the city centre.
Special Help: Eating Disorders Service
Princess Margaret Hospital has a special service called the South Island Eating Disorders Service. This service helps people who are struggling with eating disorders. An eating disorder is a serious illness where someone has unhealthy thoughts and behaviours about food and their body.
This unit is the only place in New Zealand that has a special in-patient unit. This means people can stay there to get focused help and support for their eating disorder.
The unit is quite small, helping about six or seven people at a time. It also has an outpatient area. This is where people can come for therapy and support without needing to stay overnight.
