1924

​Inception of KKH as a free maternity hospital with 30 beds

The Pauper Hospital for Women and Children was converted into a free maternity hospital – a hospital for the poor who could not afford to pay the medical fees. On 1 October 1924, Kandang Kerbau Hospital (KK Hospital) was opened with 30 beds and 12 children's cots. The hospital was led by Professor J S English, Singapore's first Professor of O&G. On that momentous day, five babies were born – three Malays, one Chinese and a Japanese. In those days, maternal and infant mortality rates were high. The hospital's mission then was to provide good maternity care and midwifery training for medical students and pupil midwives to bring the mortality rates down.