St David's Hospital, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St David's Hospital |
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| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | |
The Grade II listed entrance building of the previous St David's Hospital, now converted into apartments
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 Location in Cardiff
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| Geography | |
| Location | Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°28′51″N 3°11′29″W / 51.4808°N 3.1914°W |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public NHS |
| Hospital type | General |
| History | |
| Founded | 1839 |
St David's Hospital (called Ysbyty Dewi Sant in Welsh) is a hospital in Canton, Cardiff, Wales. It's run by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The oldest part of the hospital is a special building called a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its history.
Contents
The Hospital's Story
How the Hospital Started
In 1836, the city of Cardiff set up its own system to help people who were very poor. This led to the building of the Cardiff Union Workhouse on Cowbridge Road. It cost about £7,500 to build and opened its doors in 1839.
As more people moved to the area, the workhouse became too crowded. So, in 1862, children living there were moved to new schools called the Ely Industrial Schools. Later, in 1872, a special area with 164 beds was added to the workhouse just for sick people. This was the start of the hospital part.
Growing Bigger Over Time
The hospital building got bigger in 1881. A new entrance was built on Cowbridge Road, featuring a three-story tower with a clock. This new section included rooms for meetings, waiting areas, and offices for staff.
The architects who designed this part were James, Seward & Thomas. The outside of the building looked similar to another hospital in Cardiff, the Cardiff Royal Infirmary, but it used less expensive materials. The hospital continued to grow, with more expansions in 1890. By 1908, the workhouse could hold over 1,000 people.
Joining the NHS and Changes
In 1948, the hospital became part of the National Health Service (NHS) and was officially named St David's Hospital. Many people were born in the hospital's maternity unit, including famous Wales footballer Ryan Giggs, who was born there in 1973.
The original hospital closed in the early 1990s. Most of the old buildings were taken down, but the Victorian entrance building and its clock tower remained. This old part fell into disrepair and was damaged by vandals. However, in 2002, it was repaired and turned into apartments.
The Modern Hospital Today
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A new, modern hospital was built behind the old one. This project started in 1999 using a special funding method called a Private Finance Initiative. The new building was designed by HL Design and built by Macob Construction. It cost £16 million and opened on Saint David's Day in 2002.
The modern hospital has 100 beds. It first cared for patients with mental health needs, who moved from Royal Hamadryad Hospital, and elderly patients from Lansdowne Hospital. Today, it also offers services for children, different types of therapies, and dental care.
