Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital consultant gynaecologist Prof. Hemantha Senanayaka
Joseph Fraser is a name familiar to Sri Lankans, especially those who have sought healthcare services for women or children. The Joseph Fraser Memorial Hospital, recently rebranded as Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital, was founded in 1923 and has since specialised in obstetrics, gynaecology, and paediatric services.
The hospital was founded by Chrissie Watson in honour of her husband Joseph Fraser and this year celebrates a milestone anniversary: a century in Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector. “Throughout the years, the hospital has adeptly navigated the evolving landscape of medicine. It has seamlessly integrated cutting-edge technologies and nurtured a culture of continuous learning and innovation. This commitment has not only solidified its reputation as a cornerstone of health and wellness but also ensured holistic patient care, with the guidance of skilled medical professionals,” the hospital stated.
They added that the hospital will be embarking on a new century alongside Ninewells Hospital, another name at the forefront of women’s and children’s healthcare. The collaboration symbolises the enduring impact that quality healthcare institutions can have on individuals and society at large, the hospital added.
In order to learn more about Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital and its legacy, The Daily Morning Brunch spoke to Prof. Hemantha Senanayaka, who is a consultant gynaecologist at Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital and has been involved with it since 1991. What he considers a special feature about the hospital is that it was designed by Edwards Reid and Begg, the company that architect Geoffrey Bawa started out at. This explains the open contours and style of the Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital, which Prof. Senanayaka made a note of.
Going into more detail about the hospital’s history, he shared: “It was open only to expatriates, particularly to planters, until the early 1970s. When the planters and other foreigners who were in charge of companies here started leaving the country, they didn’t have enough business. At that point, they opened to the locals as well.”
He explained that the hospital provides a very unique environment and ambience that not many hospitals, in Sri Lanka or abroad, provide. “People find it very relaxing, and it doesn’t look like a hospital. That’s one of the main things about it.”
“It has a very generous lawn. If you, as a patient, are in a concrete box, like in most hospitals, it is very different from being able to look at a lawn or sit outside, where your mind is relaxed. All this matters. This place really offers something unique. It’s not a concrete box,” Prof. Senanayaka shared.
He added that this unique setting extends to it being a heritage building. “I think it’s a very unique environment, and it’s a pity there aren’t more hospitals like this. A lot of them are just concrete boxes,” he went on to say.
This is a standout feature of the hospital, but Prof. Senanayaka added that while you can have all the equipment and drugs and the best buildings, the basics of a healthcare facility need to be strong. This applies to aspects like medical and nursing care and monitoring.
Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital, however, has a reputation for good, solid nursing, he said, adding that the basics are strong. This reputation means that many people, including expatriates, who themselves were born at the hospital, are keen to deliver their own babies at Joseph Fraser Ninewells Hospital. “I myself have delivered babies of those I delivered during their birth,” he said, adding that he has had a very positive experience with the hospital.
The downside that Prof. Senanayaka pointed out was the lack of an adult intensive care unit. While the hospital at one point lacked a neonatal intensive care unit as well, he said they now offer neonatal care. In terms of the adult intensive care unit, Prof. Senanayaka explained that realistically, intensive care is rarely needed in maternity if the basics are followed and interventions are made appropriately. This allows medical professionals to prevent situations from deteriorating into dire emergencies.
Joseph Fraser today offers a range of services and performs high-end surgeries. Addressing the recent change of management, Prof. Senanayaka shared that with every change, he has observed an improvement of services, and added that Joseph Fraser has enhanced its services, particularly in terms of maternal care, over the years. “We were one of the first hospitals to start continuous foetal heart monitoring or CTG (cardiotocograph) in labouring mothers,” he added.
Looking back at the century Joseph Fraser has spent standing tall in Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector, Prof. Senanayaka recalled: “I remember the legendary Prof. S.S. Ratnam, who was a professor in Singapore, would come here and do fairly complex operations at the Joseph Fraser Hospital. So there was a sort of medical tourism also, where people would follow Prof. Ratnam and have their surgeries done here. Of course, he used to operate on Sri Lankans also.”