About Us

Alexandra Marine and General Hospital 

Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH) has been providing quality health care services to the residents of the Town of Goderich and surrounding municipalities for over 100 years. 

Alexandra 

Alexandra Marine and General Hospital was named in honour of this lovely Queen. Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louise Julie Oldenburg was born in Copenhagen on December 1, 1844, to Denmark's King Christian IX. At 18, she married Albert Edward, later King Edward VII, in Windsor, England. Upon Queen Victoria’s passing, Edward ascended to the throne, with his coronation coinciding with the opening of the Goderich Hospital in 1902.

The couple had five children, including Albert, who became King George V, and Maud, Queen of Norway. Alexandra was the first woman in the Order of the Garter since Henry VII's era.

After contracting rheumatic fever, Alexandra was left with a limp. She passed away at 81, on November 20, 1925, following a heart attack, and is buried in Windsor.

Marine

Goderich was among twelve "Marine" hospitals, primarily serving sailors and the indigent. While the wealthy had private care, these hospitals provided essential services to the less fortunate. In Goderich, local support, like that from Captain Babb, helped maintain care quality through community collections.

General

In the late 19th century, "General" hospitals emerged as charitable institutions for the sick and homeless poor. These hospitals offered free treatment to indigent patients, often requiring a nomination or certificate of admission from local officials or contributors.

Respectable individuals who could afford private medical care often avoided hospitals due to the fear of contracting more severe illnesses. However, public general hospitals, whether municipal, religious, or community-sponsored, played a crucial role in providing care to those in need.

South Huron Hospital

South Huron Hospital (SHH) has been providing quality health care services to the residents of the Town of Exeter and surrounding municipalities for over 70 years.

The history of the Carling property on which SHH is built dates back to the establishment of the town of Exeter. The original house was built in 1854. When the estate was offered for sale in 1951, SHH purchased it and made the decision to incorporate the old home into the hospital plans. 

The Exeter Lions Club originally spearheaded the hospital project. The first manager was H.C. Rivers and the first superintendent was Alice Claypole. The hospital opened in 1953 with 35 beds and 30 staff members.

A financial gift from Dr. James Bell allowed for the construction of a Nurses Residence, which housed a class of 14 RNAs. Once the nursing program was closed, this residence building became the existing South Huron Medical Centre.

In 1961 a new wing was built on the original house increasing the hospital’s capacity to 52 beds. Further expansion in 1966 added a kitchen, dining room, and laundry facilities.

Due to the deterioration of the 122-year-old house and because the hospital needed expansion, the Board of Directors apologetically decided to demolish the original house in 1976 and replace it with more modern facilities. In 2008, the Emergency Department was completely renovated and additional patient treatment rooms were added to enhance patient care, while complying with current infection control standards.