History (Japanese Red Cross Society – Hiroshima Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital)

January 1956	Groundbreaking ceremony held (15th), attended by Princess Takamatsu
September 1956	Completion ceremony held (11th), attended by Princess Chichibu
September 1956	Japanese Red Cross Society – Hiroshima Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital established on premises of Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital (20th) No. of beds: 120, Departments: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Radiation Treatment
November 1960	Nuclear Radiation Effects Countermeasure Research Institute established.
April 1961	Orthopaedic Surgery Department established. No. of beds: 120, Departments: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Radiation Treatment, Orthopaedic Surgery
	Completion ceremony for the Malignant Neoplasms Diagnosis and Treatment Clinic held (4th)
March 1968	Autopsy Room and Specimen Room established
June 1968	Annex hospital ward completed (4th) (additional 50 beds for a total of 170 beds)
June 1969	Betatron Radiation Room established
September 1969	Testing ward expanded
May 1977	New building opened (120 beds transferred from main building)
August 1986	Main building closing ceremony (29th)
October 1986	Deconstruction began on the Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital Main Building, Research Institute, and Malignant Neoplasms Diagnosis and Treatment Clinic for renovations
March 1988	Construction on new ward (Building No. 6) completed and completion ceremony held (29th)
April 1988	Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Japanese Red Cross Society – Hiroshima Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital merged (stage one of renovation work completed) New journey embarked on as the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital No. of beds: 594

Content of Projects

The Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Atomic-bomb Survivors Medical Care Department is involved in the following kinds of projects.

Participation and cooperation in the Hiroshima International Council for Health Care of the Radiation-exposed (HICARE)

HICARE began as a project of Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City in FY 1991, with the support from the national government and related organizations such as Medical Association(s). This organization aims to create the means to effectively utilize the experience of treatment for atomic-bomb survivors and the results of surveys and research on radiation sickness accumulated here in Hiroshima in the treatment for victims of radiation exposure across the globe, thus allowing Hiroshima to contribute to the world and promoting international cooperation. Our Hospital not only participates in the Council but also accepts medical trainees visiting Japan.

Cooperation in relief for overseas atomic bomb survivors

Our Hospital participates and cooperates in relief for overseas atomic bomb survivors (health check-ups in North America and South America) which had been implemented under the leadership of Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association and Hiroshima Prefecture. These projects were updated in FY 2002 into the project for assistance for traveling to Japan for overseas atomic-bomb survivors performed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and our Hospital has continued to cooperate in the project. We are also currently accepting patients from South Korea.

Other

We also provide consultations regarding the medical treatment, lifestyle, and welfare of atomic-bomb survivors and accept visitors.

On August 6th

Classification	Total numbers	Dead	Injured	Missing
Doctors	27	5	250	None
Nurses	34	3
Nursing students	408	22
Pharmacists	6	3
Employees	79	18
Total	554	51
Inpatients	Approx.250	5	109

Physical Damage

e main building / central hospital ward (post-war: Building No. 1), and north hospital ward (post-war: Building No. 2) were severely damaged.
The isolation hospital ward, nursing students dormitory, cleansing station, waste incinerator, chapel, autopsy room, guard room, animal house, garage, attached residences, pump room, laundry room, workroom, storage area, and connecting corridor were completely burned down.
Three off-premises nurse dormitories (including two wards for sub-dorms), as well as four wards of off-premises staff housing were completely burned down.

On the 7th and 8th, relief squads from Red Cross Yamaguchi Hospital, Red Cross Okayama Hospital, and Red Cross Tottori Hospital arrived, supporting the medical treatment efforts of the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital. However, the Hospital itself had suffered enormous human and physical damage, and several thousands of injured people had flooded it, despite it no longer functioning as a place for medical care, all at once. All the Hospital could provide was relief activities using the tiny amount of medical machines and medicine remaining. Since all the medical agencies in the city had been destroyed, medicine could also not be resupplied, meaning even simply first-aid was difficult. The staff worked tirelessly around-the-clock to provide care.

Memorial Park

Memorial Park is located to the south across the road from our Hospital. The park was established as a base for passing on the Red Cross spirit of staff members and nursing students, who devoted themselves to rescuing the victims even though many of them died while performing their duties at the time of atomic bombing, to posterity. The other purpose of the park is for seeking peace through consolation for the spirits of those who died in the line of duty and providing witness for the atomic bomb experiences.
Many people, including our staff, attend the memorial ceremony held on August 6th each year.
The Memorial Park is always open. Please feel free to visit and view the Park anytime.