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.
