After 65 years of service, The Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch has officially closed its doors to patients, marking the end of an era for the historic institution.

Nestled at the foot of the Port Hills in Cashmere, PMH has been a cornerstone of healthcare in Christchurch since its opening in 1959.

Over the decades, it evolved from a general hospital to housing services for older persons’ health, rehabilitation, specialist mental health, and even a COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinic during the pandemic.

While PMH was once considered a candidate to become Christchurch’s main hospital, its location proved too far from the city centre.

However, its role became vital in the aftermath of the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.

“On 22 February 2011, PMH became a lifeline,” said Executive Director of Nursing, Becky Hickmott. “Wards were reopened to receive patients from Christchurch Hospital, and part of the hospital became an emergency operations centre. Patients and casualties unable to reach Christchurch Hospital due to damaged roads and overwhelmed emergency services found care at PMH.”

Hickmott reflected on the hospital’s legacy, saying, “While PMH holds many special memories for our staff and our community, the complexity of redeveloping the facility for contemporary healthcare needs meant we needed a new vision. Today, our patients are receiving care in modern, fit-for-purpose settings. We are so grateful for the years of service our teams have provided in this beautiful setting.”

The hospital’s final transition saw the Child, Adolescent, and Family (CAF) Outpatient team move to a new state-of-the-art mental health facility for young people at Hillmorton Campus.

CAF Service Manager Deborah Selwood called it “the end of an era.” She added, “The results of moving to the new facility are going to be extraordinary. It’s a great way to end 2024 and look forward to flourishing new beginnings in 2025.”

Over its lifespan, PMH has been home to innovative treatments, including its physiotherapy unit in the 1960s with mini spa baths, ultraviolet rooms, and paraffin wax tubs for arthritis patients.

It has also left a profound emotional impact on staff who worked there.

Janis Watson, who began working at PMH as a physio aide at age 16 in 1967, recalled, “Hospitals are like communities in themselves, and PMH certainly was. It had a good atmosphere, and everyone who worked there loved it.”

When she left, Janis left a simple farewell on a whiteboard: “So long, it’s been good to know you.”

Registered Nurse Jacqueline Cuthbert shared memories of living in the nurse’s hostel in 1988. “One memory I have is running to the lounge to tell everyone the Berlin Wall had come down. We were glued to the news, watching the dismantling and celebrations. It was a fun place to live and work, and I made lifelong friends there.”

Andrew Henderson, a Charge Nurse Manager who worked at PMH in 2012, reflected on the hospital’s unique spirit. “It had a real sense of community, and the spirit could be felt everywhere in the building. Long may she be remembered.”

While no decisions have been made about the future of the TPMH site, services that once operated there are being relocated to modern facilities.

The final remaining Older Persons Health and Rehabilitation Community Services teams will move to Burwood Hospital in 2025, following workspace refurbishments.