History
Nazareth Hospital: A tradition of caring
Situated in the hills of southern Galilee, in Israel, the city of
Nazareth is known as the place where Mary received news of the
coming birth of Jesus. It was here that her son Jesus spent his
childhood and young adult years. Throughout the centuries since
then, Nazareth has had a Christian presence reminding the world of
its most famous resident. Nazareth Hospital is one of three
Christian hospitals in Nazareth that continue in the healing
tradition of Jesus.
The beginning
In 1861 a young Armenian doctor named Dr. Kaloost Vartan arrived
in Nazareth, riding on his donkey from Lebanon. Invited by the
Anglican Church, he decided to stay and offer his services.
Renting a house in the suq (the old market), he set up a clinic
and began attending to patients. At that time--1861--this was the
only medical center between Beirut, Lebanon, and Jerusalem, in the
south.
The first floor of the rented house housed the dispensary, with a
separate room for four beds. Patients came from Nazareth and the
surrounding countryside for medical care. In addition, hospital
staff ran clinics in the villages neighboring Nazareth.
In 1866 Dr. Vartan’s work in Nazareth was officially supported by
Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society (EMMS),
a Scottish organization that trained medical personnel to serve in
needy areas, established medical facilities, and provided funds
for their work. The clinic increased in size to accommodate eight
beds and some time later, two adjoining houses were rented and
more beds were added. At its peak, the hospital there had 40 beds.
Years of growth and change
In1906 a site was purchased on a hill west of the city for the
building of a new hospital. Dr. Vartan died in 1908, before
building began, but in 1912, the first building was completed,
under the Hospital's new administrator, Dr. Frederick Scrimgeour.
There Dr. Scrimgeour served, along with nurses Edith Johncock and
Jessica Croft.
In the next few years, other buildings were added. But World War I
brought confusion, when the hospital buildings were confiscated
for use as a military hospital and officers’ barracks under the
Ottoman government. After the war, the site was returned to EMMS
and extensive building and renovations took place
In 1921 Dr. William Bathgate arrived in Nazareth and took over the
administration of the Hospital. Together with his niece, Dr. Doris
Wilson, Dr. Bathgate attended to the medical needs of the
hospital, in addition to the administration. He oversaw continued
repair to the buildings and the construction of new buildings to
accommodate new services and the increasing patient load. In 1935
the hospital welcomed the arrival of electricity, and the
installation of its first x-ray machine. Also during this time a
school of nursing was established to train staff for work in the
hospital. (See School of Nursing for more
information.)
World War II and the founding of the state of Israel brought added
challenges. The number of staff was low: two foreign doctors
provided care, along with nurses and local employees. Resources
were scant and the number of patients was high, including the
20,000 Palestinian refugees who had left the surrounding villages
in 1948 to find security in Nazareth.
In 1952 Dr. John Tester joined the staff, followed several years
later by others. He became administrator in 1956. Under his
tenure, the hospital developed specialized work in departments,
upgraded services, and built various buildings.
Dr. Hans Bernath came to Nazareth in 1956, and worked as a
surgeon. In 1969 he became administrator of the hospital. He
supervised numerous improvements including new maternity
facilities, a new kitchen, the addition of dialysis and
physiotherapy services and the hiring of specialized staff. Dr.
Bernath inspired local and international donors to contribute
towards the further development of the hospital.
Dr. Bob Martin succeeded him in 1988 and saw the implementation of
the National Health Insurance Law, which took effect January 1,
1995. This law restructured health care in Israel and guaranteed
basic health care for all residents of Israel. Mr. G. Anthony Holt
served as interim general administrator for almost two years and
was followed by Mr. Derek Thomson, a professional hospital
administrator from the United Kingdom, who continues in the role
today.
Administrator
|
Dates served
|
|
Dr. Kaloost Vartan |
1866 - 1908 |
|
Dr. Frederick
Scrimgeour |
1908 - 1921 |
|
Dr. William Bathgate |
1921 - 1956 |
|
Dr. John Tester |
1956 - 1969 |
|
Dr, Hans Bernath |
1969 - 1988 |
|
Dr. Robert Martin |
1988 - 1995 |
|
Mr. G. Anthony Holt |
1995 - 1997 |
|
Mr. Derek Thomson |
1997 - 2007 |
|
Mr. Elia Abdo |
2007 - |
The legacy
Behind the work of the foreign staff lie the contributions of many
dedicated local staff who served over the years in many capacities
throughout the hospital. "Old-timers" have many stories to tell
and fond memories of life in the hospital community. In the early
days, the medical and nursing staff were exclusively from
overseas, but over the years these responsibilities have been
assumed by local staff. Today the Nazareth Hospital employs
approximately 400 local people, who are joined by a small number
of foreign staff and volunteers who have came from abroad to help
with the work.
The hospital buildings reflect the many changes that have occurred
in the Nazareth, from the early days of four beds in a rented
house to 146 beds in large hospital buildings. Building,
renovations, and improvements are always going on, as the needs of
the Nazareth community change and increase. Over the years new
buildings were built and new services added because of generous
contributions from local and international friends who believed in
the efforts of the Nazareth Hospital.
The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society continues its support of
the Nazareth Hospital, through its successor, EMMS Nazareth.
Nazareth Village
In 1999 a new venture was launched on hospital land to the south
of the current buildings--Nazareth Village. After the discovery of
an ancient winepress dating from Roman times, old farming
terraces, and stone quarries, work began to restore these features
and to recreate a village as Nazareth might have been in the time
of Jesus. This international effort, a non-profit project separate
from the hospital itself, aims to educate both local and
international visitors about the life and teachings of Jesus. For
more information see
Nazareth Village.
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