The Ottawa Civic Hospital opened in 1924 with private, semi-private, and public wards, with the largest ward having 16 beds. In the public wards, you might have a screen or a divider of sorts to provide some privacy, and each bed was equipped with a washstand offering hot and cold water and a mirror.
The photo shown above was taken in a men’s ward at the Civic in March 1945, and as you can see, on this particular ward, privacy was hard to come by.
Improving privacy is a priority as we plan our new campus. Every patient will have their own room with an abundance of natural light, space for loved ones to spend the night, and their own accessible washroom. Each room will have technology that allows patients to connect directly with their care team, families unable to visit in person and entertainment.
