1948
The University College of the West Indies,(UCWI), the region's first University, was established at Mona, Jamaica and opened with the Faculty of Medical Sciences
1949
The Earl of Athlone laid the foundation stone for the construction of the University College Hospital of the West Indies.
Mrs. Margaret Moodie nee Foster-Smith the first Matron, was appointed to establish the Preliminary Training School for nurses and to assist with the establishment of the hospital.
The University College Hospital of the West Indies School of Nursing was established with first joint Preliminary Training School (PTS) for nurses between the Kingston Public Hospital and the University College Hospital of the West Indies, (UCHWI). The school was housed in the Old Gibraltar Barracks on UCWI compound.
1950
The Department of Anaesthetics began as sub-department in the Department of Surgery.
1952
The Hospital admitted its first patient.
The Pharmacy Department was opened with three pharmacists.
1953
The Department of Radiology started as the X-Ray Department.
In January, Sir Hugh Foot, the Governor of Jamaica, officially opened the University College Hospital of the West Indies.
Sir Winston Churchill unveiled the plaque acknowledging the contribution made by the government of the United Kingdom to the institution. The nurses’ residence was built.
The X-Ray Department was established
The Nurses' residence was built
1954
The UCWI Department of Microbiology was opened with the responsibilities for studies in molecular research as well as providing diagnostic services to the Hospital..
1956
The UCWI Medical Research Council, (MRC), was opened
The Cardiac Clinic was opened, offering routine clinical follow up and diagnosis of patients with cardiac disease.
1957
The School of Midwifery at (UCHWI) was established.
1961-1963
A new Casualty Block and Observation ward were established.
The hospital opened five new Operating Theatres
A 75-bed Paediatric Block was opened
Specialist Block opened offering Orthopedics, Dermatology, Ear Nose & Throat (ENT), Psychiatric services.
The Library of School of Nursing was established
1964
The Department of Medical Social Work was established.
New Central Sterilizing Room was established
1965
The Department of Anaesthetic became an autonomous department through the urging of Professor of Surgery, Sir Henry Annamunthodo. Since then it has been called the Department of Anaesthetic and Intensive Care.
The Department of Psychiatry was relocated to a new building.
The School of Medical Radiation Technology, first known as the School of Radiography was established.
1967
The hospital's name was changed from the University Collage Hospital of the West Indies to the University Hospital of the West Indies.
The first Open-Heart Surgery in the English-speaking Caribbean was performed.
1969
The Critical Care Nursing progamme was established
1971
The Department of Nuclear Medicine was established.
Operating Theatre Nursing Course commenced
The Hospital commenced Haemodialysis therapy.
1972
A twenty bed Unit for the Department of Psychiatry and Child Guidance Clinic was completed.
New offices were constructed for the Dept. of Nuclear Medicine.
1974
An eight bedded Intensive Care Unit was commissioned.
The post of Principal Nursing Educator was established
The Haemodialysis Unit was opened with three stations.
1977
The hospital opened the Cytology Unit for laboratory tests and research in this specialized area of health care
1978
The first two male nursing students were accepted in the School of Nursing
1987
The Family Centre (now known as C.H.A.R.E.S-Centre for HIV/AIDS Research and Education Services) was opened.
Haemodialysis Unit expansion funded by National Commercial bank, (NCB)
1988
The Cadet (Patient Care Assistant) programme was established.
1989
The new Accident and Emergency Unit which was built with a grant from the Scotia Bank Foundation during the bank's 100th Anniversary, and was officially opened in November 1992.
1990
The Hospital established a private wing facility, The Tony Thwaites Private Wing Ltd. (TTW).
1992
The Scrub Technician Course commenced. Cadets were trained to assist in the Operating Theatres.
1995
The Emergency Medicine Course for Nurses began with seven students.
1999
The Hospital started the computerisation of its patient services. The programme is called Patient Management Systems (PIMS).
Pharmacy Technician Course commenced on September 20, 1999 and its launch was on October 12, 1999.
Tropical Metabolic Research Institute (TMRI) was established and continues to contribute to the understanding and improved management of severe childhood malnutrition.
2000
Emergency Medicine Division was established with the merging of The Accident and Emergency Unit and Casualty.
2001
Day Care Nursery was handed over by the UHWI Trust to the Hospital. The Nursery was built to assist the facilitation of health needs for the children of hospital staff.
Training of Darkroom Technicians commenced on March 19, 2001
The Department of Surgery hosted the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) in May 2001. A total of thirty-one (31) doctors participated in the course, which is designed to teach doctors life saving and standardized approach to trauma care.
Dr. J Williams-Johnson, Dr. S French and Dr. E Williams were the first set of doctors to have successfully completed the Emergency Medicine Programme at UHWI. They assumed their appointments as Consultants in the Accident and Emergency Department in July 1, 2001.
Jamaica's first successful test tube babies were born through In-vitro Fertilization.
The Day Care Nursery funded by the UHWI Trust was established. The Nursery was built to facilitate care of the children of Hospital’s employees.
The Department of Surgery hosted the Advanced Trauma Life Support, (ATLS) programme. This programme is designed to teach medical and nursing personnel standardized approach to trauma care.
The first group of doctors of the Emergency Medicine Programme graduated and were appointed consultants in the department.
2002
Sir Howard Cooke officially opened the MRI Unit during his annual Christmas visit to the Hospital.
2004
October 17, a new state-of-the-art Operating Theatre and a second Intensive Care Unit opened.
The transition of nursing education from hospital to university resulted in the transfer of the batch of nurses to the University of the West Indies School of Nursing to pursue BSc . Nursing.
2005
The Continuous Quality Improvement Department was established.
2007
Neonatal Intensive Care nursing Course began.
2010
The Customer Service Centre Sponsored by the CHASE Fund was opened on May 17
The Medical Critical Care Unit, (CCU), was opened in December.
2013
The Triage Unit which was sponsored by the CHASE Fund was opened on May 3.
2014
Ring road refurbishing project was officially reopened on April 8
Launched the inaugural Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Project in April
Recipient of the inaugural Guardian Group “Keep It Alive” 5K Night Run donation in June
2017
Celebrated the successful results of the UHWI Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) Audit conducted by Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO). Excellence in practice using Best Practice Guidelines! Leading the way in Jamaica started in the month of June!!
Installation of new Broilers, Petroleum Tank, refurbishing of ICU-A, and Ward 18 in June
UHWI Day Care Nursery Labour Day Project
Visit of South African Delegation in June
Launched Best for Mommy & baby campaign in November
Received donation from Supreme Ventures Limited in the sum of $4 million JMD in November
Reopened the John Homi Intensive Care Unit in November
2018
The University of the West Indies Development and Endowment Fund donated a Transport incubator for use on the Special Care Nursery in February
Received donation of a Zeiss Visulas YAG III Laser machine in May
Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General and wife of Antigua and Barbuda visited the UHWI on July 27
Sagicor Foundation donated equipment to University Hospital of the West Indies Paediatric Ward as of August
University Hospital of the West Indies reopened the Intensive Care Unit for newborns in August
IAEA and UHWI Practical Arrangements Signing officially in September
Launched Hospital Information Management Systems (HIMS) in September
Launched the Fire Warden Certification for staff in September
2019
Received donation of a portable Echocardiogram machine in September
Received donation from Chase fund for Nephrology Department UHWI in January
UHWI State-Of-The-Art 3D Mammography Machine received in February
Women's Imaging Centre Opened in March
Received $10 million worth of medical equipment from Guardian Life from the Guardian Life 5k run in May
Opened new Digital X-Ray Unit officially in October
Opened DIGITAL UNIT IN Emergency Medicine Division officially in November
2020
Treatment of first Covid-19 patient in Jamaica in March
UHWI performed the first minimally invasive cardiac catheter ablation procedure in September
2021
Project ISO 9001:2015
Opened the Field Hospital
