Dr. Mary Hood, who attended the birth of Walker's last child Archie, explained the need for a hospital to treat victims of malnutrition, diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, and pneumonia.

Dr. Mary Whetstone appealed by saying that no one cared for the people with the worst diseases or "smoothed their dying pillows".

Although the typical Victorian women of the time were not used to hearing the details of disease and disadvantaged lives, the ladies donated toward the foundation of a hospital.

The first building in late 1882 was a small rented house on 3 1/2 Avenue South which had room for ten patients, two nurses in training, and maids.

Abbott had to treat women in houses until 1910, when a grateful William Hood Dunwoody paid to build a purpose-built hospital.

Because of the Great Depression, though, it took until 1941 before the west wing and the central pavilion were remodeled and the original hospital building was demolished.

Government money was distributed to ensure improved access to health care, and technological advances were made in cardiovascular and pulmonary surgery techniques.

In addition, diagnostic methods were improved, and extended care for critically ill patients received attention.

In 1953, the Memorial Pavilion was completed, with a post-anesthesia recovery room, expanded physical therapy facilities, a new classroom, and an electrocardiograph machine.