KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Hospital in Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital[2] (KKH; commonly referred to as KK Women's and Children's Hospital) is a public hospital specialising in healthcare for women and children in Singapore, located at 100 Bukit Timah Road. It has 864 beds and provides obstetric and gynecology, neonatology, and pediatric services.[2]
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| Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-kanak (Malay) 竹脚妇幼医院 (Chinese) கே கே பெண்கள் மற்றும் குழந்தைகள் மருத்துவமனை (Tamil) | |
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| SingHealth | |
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 Street view of KK Women's and Children's Hospital | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore |
| Coordinates | 1°18′38.0″N 103°50′49.0″E |
| Organisation | |
| Type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Yes Accident & Emergency | |
| Beds | 864[1] |
| Speciality | Women's and children's hospital |
| History | |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Links | |
| Website | kkh.com.sg |
| Lists | Hospitals in Singapore |
| Former Kandang Kerbau Hospital | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of the Former Kandang Kerbau Hospital area | |
General information | |
| Type | Government offices |
Architectural style | Low-rise |
| Owner | Land Transport Authority |
| Operator | Land Transport Authority |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Designated | 1 October 2025 |
| Reference no. | 76 |
Originally a "lock hospital" for sex workers and prostitutes in 1872, the hospital was converted to a pauper hospital for women after sexually transmitted diseases decreased in Singapore. In 1924, it became a maternity hospital.[3]
Etymology
The hospital's name comes from the Malay term for "buffalo shed" (kandang = shed / pen + kerbau = buffalo), reflecting the area's past link with buffalo rearing.[3]
History
The hospital was set up in 1858.[4]
While the hospital initially started as one catering to health care for women, mainly for gynecology and obstetrics, it has since expanded its role.[citation needed]
First, the pediatrics department was added for the care of the babies after delivery, but over the years it expanded into a full pediatric service, treating younger patients for all kinds of illnesses up to teenagers. An offshoot, the neonatology service, was then added. Thus the expanded role of the hospital warranted a renaming to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.[citation needed]
1924 to 1999: conversion to maternity hospital
On 1 October 1924, KKH was converted to a maternity hospital with 30 beds.[3] It was also used to train students in midwifery and medicine.[3]
During World War II, KKH became an emergency general hospital for the population when Japan attacked Singapore.[3] During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, the hospital was called Chuo Byoin or Central Hospital.[3]
In 1966, the hospital entered the Guinness Book of Records for delivering the highest number of newborns within a single maternity facility for that year, and it continued to hold on to this record for a full decade,[2] delivering 85% of the population.[5]
In March 1997, the hospital moved to its present site.[5]
2000s to present
As a result of a restructuring exercise in the local healthcare scene, the hospital became a member of the Singapore Health Services on 1 April 2000.[5]
In 2003, the old premises were marked as a historical site by the National Heritage Board,[2] a tribute to an institution that has been the birthplace of over 1.2 million Singaporeans since its inception. With the rich history of the former KK Hospital, it was gazetted as a national monument on 1 October 2025[6] and the old premises were leased to Land Transport Authority as a transportation museum and gallery.[5]
