Bustamante Hospital for Children celebrates 63 years of service
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC), Jamaica’s specialist paediatric hospital, celebrated 63 years of service on Friday, paying tribute to the generations of children, families and healthcare professionals who have contributed to its legacy.
Established in November 1963, the hospital was formed following the transfer of the paediatric ward at Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) to the former British Military Hospital, which was handed over to the Jamaican Government after the country gained Independence in 1962.
Now, BHC remains the only specialist children’s hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean, providing care for patients from birth to 12 years old across a wide range of medical and surgical specialities.
Its services include general medicine, cardiology, neurology, asthma and respiratory care, nephrology, dermatology, general surgery, haematology and oncology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, urology, ear, nose and throat (ENT), plastics and burns, ophthalmology and cardiothoracic surgery, among other clinical support services.
In a release on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood said the hospital’s 63rd anniversary is, above all, a tribute to the people behind the institution.
“Sixty-three years ago, this hospital opened its doors with a simple yet profound purpose: to ensure that the children of Jamaica receive the specialised healthcare they deserve. Today, I commend our doctors, nurses, teachers, mental health professionals, allied health professionals, administrative and support staff, whose unwavering dedication and commitment keep that promise alive every day,” he said.
Over the years, the hospital has undergone significant expansion and modernisation to strengthen its capacity to deliver specialised paediatric care. A major redevelopment in 1991 resulted in the construction of a Diagnostic Services Block, Operating Theatre Suite, Accident and Emergency Building and Specialist Out-patient Block.
More recent additions include a Cardiac Catheterization Centre, a 10-bed High Dependency Unit, a dedicated Oncology ward, the National Health Fund (NHF) Drug Serv Pharmacy and, in 2026, a new Parent Overnight Suite.
According to the administration, healing at BHC extends beyond the bedside.
It noted that the hospital’s Burn Unit provides specialised treatment for children recovering from serious injuries, supported by its plastics and burns service. It said mental health and psychosocial support, delivered in collaboration with the Medical Social Work Department, also help children and their families navigate the challenges associated with illness, injury and hospitalisation.
Education remains another important part of the hospital’s approach to care. Through its on-site school, children can continue their studies while receiving treatment, with some students even successfully completing their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, proof, the hospital said, that illness should not put any child’s future on hold.
BHC currently has 279 beds, including a five-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a 10-bed Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Its Accident and Emergency Department treats about 32,000 children annually and is supported by about 750 employees.
As it marks its anniversary, the hospital also extended its sincere appreciation to the parents, partners, stakeholders, and well-wishers who have supported its mission over the years.
