Hailey Tran
Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean about 3800 km from Perth, Australia, has been serviced by a hospital since the earliest days of its settlement. The island's hospital has had a rich history, with buildings destroyed by storms and fires, and even a burial ground that posed a health hazard due to its proximity to the hospital. The current hospital, built in 1995, is situated on Phosphate Hill Road and offers 24/7 acute and primary care to the community through a Primary Health Care model. The Christmas Island Health Centre includes six general ward beds and two emergency department beds, with services provided by three general practitioners and 12 nurses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Christmas Island, Indian Ocean |
| Address | 33 Phosphate Hill Road, PO Box 865, Christmas Island, WA 6798 |
| Phone | 08 9164 8333 |
| Services | Hospital, outpatient and community-based health and dental services |
| Number of Beds | 8 |
| General Practitioners | 3 |
| Nurses | 12 |
| Service Hours | 24/7 |
| After-Hours Nurse Contact | 0861025224 (West Island), 0861028655 (Home Island), Radio Channel 24 |
| Old Hospital Location | Settlement on Gaze Road (previously known as Waterfall Road) |
| Old Hospital Buildings | Hospital wards, beriberi hospital, mortuary |
| Old Hospital Years | Buildings built and extended between 1930-1970 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Christmas Island Health Service provides hospital services to the island
- There is a 24-hour emergency service available 7 days a week
- The Christmas Island Hospital moved location in 1995
- The old hospital buildings were converted into holiday accommodation
- Refugees from the Indian Ocean region are brought to Christmas Island for assessment
The Christmas Island Health Service provides hospital services to the island
The Christmas Island Health Centre comprises six general ward beds and two emergency department beds. The facility is staffed by three general practitioners and twelve nurses, providing 24/7 acute and primary care to the community. The island's hospital services have a strong focus on delivering patient-centred care, with core values of quality, accountability, respect, and ethics.
In addition to the hospital, the Christmas Island Health Service also includes remote clinic settings. The island's population has a diverse cultural heritage, with influences from China, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia. The IOTHS plays a role in supporting refugees from the Indian Ocean region who are brought to Christmas Island for assessment and care.
The current hospital on Phosphate Hill Road replaced the old hospital on Gaze Road (formerly known as Waterfall Road) in 1995. The old hospital buildings, constructed between 1930 and 1970, were converted into holiday accommodation. However, the history of healthcare facilities on the island dates back even further, with hospital wards and a beriberi hospital operating in the early 1900s.
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There is a 24-hour emergency service available 7 days a week
Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean about 3800 km from Perth, Australia, is serviced by the Indian Ocean Territories Health Service (IOTHS). The IOTHS offers acute and community-based health programs through a Primary Health Care model, which includes an 8-bed hospital on Christmas Island.
The Christmas Island Health Centre provides 24/7 acute and primary care to the community, with services delivered by three General Practitioners and 12 nurses. The centre comprises six general ward beds and two emergency department beds.
The Christmas Island Hospital has had a long history, with various incarnations and locations over the years. The "old hospital," which was originally located on Gaze Road (formerly known as Waterfall Road), was replaced by a new hospital on Phosphate Hill Road in 1995. The old hospital buildings, constructed and extended between 1930 and 1970, were eventually converted into holiday accommodation.
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The Christmas Island Hospital moved location in 1995
The Indian Ocean Territories Health Service (IOTHS) provides health services to the communities of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The IOTHS is comprised of the Christmas Island Health Service, which includes the hospital, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Health Service, which includes health centres on West and Home Islands.
Christmas Island is located some 3800 km from Perth, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are 900 km to the west of Christmas Island. Culturally, the two island settings have strong links with Southeast Asia, with the Christmas Island population reflecting a 60% Chinese and 20% Malay heritage.
The IOTHS offers a broad range of acute and community-based health programs through a Primary Health Care model situated at both locations, with an 8-bed hospital on Christmas Island and two remote clinic settings in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The Christmas Island Health Centre comprises six general ward beds and two emergency department beds. Services are provided by three General Practitioners and 12 nurses to deliver 24/7 acute and primary care to the community.
While I could not find explicit information about the hospital moving location in 1995, the Local Government Act 1995 (WA)(CI) provides the Minister with responsibility for the Territories with the power to make ordinances for the peace, order, and good government of Christmas Island. This includes the power to amend, repeal, or suspend applied Western Australian laws where they are inconsistent with Australian Government policy.
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The old hospital buildings were converted into holiday accommodation
Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean about 3800 km from Perth, is serviced by the Indian Ocean Territories Health Service (IOTHS). The IOTHS offers a range of acute and community-based health programs through a Primary Health Care model. Christmas Island has an 8-bed hospital and two remote clinic settings in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The current hospital on Phosphate Hill Road is not the island's first. From the island's earliest settlement days until the 1990s, the Christmas Island Hospital was located on Gaze Road (formerly known as Waterfall Road). In 1995, it was replaced by the new hospital. The old hospital buildings, constructed and extended between 1930 and 1970, were eventually converted into holiday accommodation.
The old hospital was not the first medical facility on the island either. A 1901 map shows hospital wards and a beriberi hospital. There was also a notation that the four hospital wards were to be removed. The beriberi hospital was damaged by a storm in 1908, as evidenced by photos taken by Dr William MacDougall during his time on Christmas Island between 1904 and 1908. The photos feature in his thesis, 'Beriberi on Christmas Island with special reference to diet'.
The old hospital buildings have a history that dates back to the early days of the island's settlement. The buildings were originally in different locations and had been damaged or destroyed by storms and fires. The burial ground near the old hospital was filling up fast, and in April 1901, the bodies were exhumed and reburied further away. In the 1960s, when the foundations were being dug for the new nurses' quarters, human remains were discovered, believed to be those of young coolies who had been buried there.
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Refugees from the Indian Ocean region are brought to Christmas Island for assessment
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and 1,550 kilometres north-west of the Australian mainland. The island's multicultural atmosphere is a result of its rich and diverse history. In recent times, refugees from the Indian Ocean region have been brought to Christmas Island for assessment and care.
The island's population reflects a 60% Chinese and 20% Malay heritage, with the remainder being Caucasian. The island's history is closely linked to the discovery of phosphate in the late 19th century, which led to commercial mining and the migration of labourers from China, Malaysia, and Sikhs.
Christmas Island has become a popular target for asylum seekers, and refugees from the Indian Ocean region are brought to the island for assessment and care. The Indian Ocean Territories Health Service (IOTHS) is responsible for providing health services to the island's community, including refugees. The IOTHS offers a range of acute and community-based health programs through a Primary Health Care model, with an 8-bed hospital on Christmas Island.
The Christmas Island Health Centre provides 24/7 acute and primary care to the community, with three General Practitioners and 12 nurses. The IOTHS aims to deliver patient-centred care that respects all cultures and individuals. The island's laid-back, multicultural vibe and natural beauty, including its unique flora and fauna, make it an attractive destination for refugees and tourists alike.
In addition to its natural attractions, Christmas Island has a growing tourism industry, with 77% of residents wanting to see more tourists and 84% believing that tourism is crucial to the island's economic future. The island's cuisine, a blend of Australian and Asian influences, also contributes to its appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is a hospital on Christmas Island. The Christmas Island Health Centre has six general ward beds and two emergency department beds.
The hospital has eight beds in total.
Services are provided by three General Practitioners and 12 nurses to deliver 24/7 acute and primary care to the community.
