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Neyyoor is a village situated one Kilometer from Monday Market on Trivandrum Mandaikadu Highway. The establishment of LMS (London Mission Society) Medical work in this place was famous all over India. From the day it was founded in 1838, this hospital was the only hope of health for 10 million people around till the private hospitals came up. Dr. Archibald Ramasay, who was the 2nd Medical Missionary by the LMS, was a surgeon and he founded the hospital at Neyyoor. Dr. Charles Calder Leitch, who collected money and built a hospital, followed his work. Even in the late 19 th Century he conducted 82 operations here in Neyyoor. Gasterojejunostomy was done for the first time in the country. Dr. John Lowe followed him and got a grant for the hospital from Travancore Maharajah and he started a Medical School in 1864 to train medical assistants to work in dispensaries in Santhapuram , Kottaram, Attoor and Agastheshwaram. Next to Dr. Lowe, Dr. Thomas Smith Thomson, Dr. Sargood Fry expanded the hospital with a new building, with dispensaries at Kulasekharam, Marthandam and Thittuvilai. Dr. Fry was instrumental in starting the leper asylum in Colachel, which later became Charles Pease Memorial Leprosy hospital. Dr. Arthur Fells, who came to Neyyoor in 1893, opened a separate Maternity Block. His work was continued with dedication by Dr. Bendall, Dr. James Davidson, Dr.H.R. Orrin and Dr. Bulloch. Dr.S.H. Pugh joined Neyyoor in 1913. He was a frail man with untiring spirit. Dr.Somervell, who wanted to conquer Mount Everest, came to India in 1922 and saw the increased demand of medical help and that was the new beginning of the Golden Era of the hospital. He is a legend. His dedication and untiring long hours in the Operation Theatre with great skill. With his surgical knife, he made this hospital known far and wide in the country. He saw the high incidence of oral cancers and the need of Radium Treatment and started Radium Wards. The Operation Theatre of that time had gallery to help other surgeons. Witnessing the various difficult surgeries, this wizard of surgeons did everyday, from 10 to 18 major operations. Dr.T.H. Somervell, Dr.Joan Thompson, Dr.Jenkins Dr. Orr and Dr. Dudley Marks are the other doctors who were builders in the noble edifice of building Neyyoor hospital. Then the great Indian doctors like Dr. Jeyasekharan, Dr. Kingsly, Dr. Bensam, Dr. J.C. Vijayan, Dr.C. Hubert, Dr. Geoffrey R. Joel gave their contribution and now it is standing as a 375 bedded multispeciality hospital with a modern Operation Theatre Complex with 5 operation rooms with C arm a medical and surgical ICU, NICU to name a few. A good dedicated team of doctors work in each department and International Cancer Centre caters to the needs of almost 4000 cancer patients every year. Dr. G.M. Moses was the first Indian Medical Superintendant for two years from 1953-1955 and he retired on 31-12-1960 after 40 years of meritorious and dedicated service to humanity. Our needs are plenty. The Buildings, which are around 75 to 100 years old, should be renovated and we are in need of few more equipments to keep pace with the scientific advancements. My sincere request to all of you who read this write up is to help this great institution regain its past glory by your suggestion, prayers and contributions. |
