Eye+Hospital

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital is now known as a Group as, in addition to the main Hospital in Jerusalem, it also runs satellite clinics in Hebron, Gaza and Anabta, and Mobile Outreach Clinics along the West Bank.

See the Wikipedia site here or visit the Eye Hospital Group's own site here.
Chairman & Hospitaller of the Order: Mr John Talbot Priory House, 25 St. John’s Lane Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4PP E-mail: exec@stjohneyehospital.org
 * __ St John Eye Hospital __**
 * Hospitaller’s office **

St John Eye Hospital Group is one of two Foundations of The Order of St John. The Order traces its origins back 900 years to the Knights Hospitaller from whom St John today derives its inspiration – //Pro Fide Pro Utilitate Hominum//, 'For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity.’ In the 1999 restructuring of the Order, the Hospital became a Company Limited by Guarantee, and is registered with the United Kingdom Charity Commission as a separate entity. The Hospital Board, chaired by the Hospitaller now has full Trustee responsibilities and is accountable to the Grand Council, which has the power to appoint and remove its members.
 * First established in Jerusalem in 1882, the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is now the only charitable provider of crucial eye care in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). **
 * The rate of blindness there is ten times higher than in developed countries. ** 30% of the population is under the age of ten and the incidence of conditions particularly affecting children – such as squint, infantile glaucoma, cataract and trauma – is high. In adults cataract, glaucoma and the complications of diabetes are the main blinding conditions. **Research has shown that blindness causes poverty**, and that recovering lost vision raises the economic status of individuals and families. With satellite centres in Hebron, Anabta and Gaza – as well as Mobile Outreach Clinics operating throughout the West Bank – **it is our mission to ensure that our patients are able to access poverty-relieving ophthalmic services regardless of where they live.**

The Ophthalmic Hospital was founded in 1882 on a site provided by grant of the Turkish Sultan and within a decade it had become so well established that patients came from across the Middle East. With the outbreak of the First World War the Turkish authorities closed the Hospital, confiscating all its equipment and supplies and then, in1917, destroying it with explosives. The hospital moved twice over the following half-century, its present building being opened in 1960, thanks to the generosity of members of the Order and some of the leading oil companies. Our main Hospital is in East Jerusalem and is ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) accredited. It has a 49-bed capacity and is staffed by both local and foreign specialist surgeons, doctors, nurses and paramedics, as well as overseas medical volunteers. There is a large, modern Outpatients Department and very busy specialist Retinal, Corneal and Paediatric services. Our two operating theatres give a 24-hour emergency service where all kinds of major eye surgery are performed.
 * __ The Main Hospital __**

St John in New Zealand has always supported the Eye Hospital in the following ways: • Providing clinical and personnel support. • The following members of St John New Zealand have worked at the Hospital: Dr Norman Manson, CBE, KStJ (appointed through Grand Priory) Sir Randal Elliott, KBE, KStJ Pauline Lady Elliott, OStJ Dr Keith Maslin, CStJ Dr Mark Elder, CStJ Mrs Mary Hurst, OStJ
 * __ New Zealand and the Eye Hospital __**

For some years now the Oblations paid by Members of the Order in New Zealand have been sent to the Hospital. As well, it has been traditional for the offerings received at St John Day Church Services and raised by Hospitaller Clubs and Fellowship Branches throughout New Zealand to be sent to the Hospital.
 * Financial Support **

One of the principal prayers of the Order is for the Hospital, and this is always said at investiture and St John Day services.
 * Prayer for the Hospital **