60 years of nursing care in Järve

This month, East Tallinn Central Hospital Nursing Clinic in Järve, formerly known as Tallinn Järve Hospital, celebrates its 60th birthday. The first patient was admitted to the Railway Hospital located among the greenery and trees of Järve and Rahumäe on 4 August 1961. For decades, Järve Hospital has played an important role in nurturing Estonians back to health. At the Nursing Clinic, patients find relief from their ailments and learn to manage without assistance. Today, it is one of the largest nursing clinics in Estonia and houses 130 beds and a 12-bed hospice for patients.

“The majority of our patients are referred from the active treatment units of East Tallinn Central Hospital, with a smaller part also coming with a referral from their general practitioner or a specialist. Our goal is to try to restore or maintain the health status and management levels of our patients after a severe trauma or illness and to prepare people for returning to their homes or a care home,” says Director Eve Karmo about work at the clinic. “Patients who are recovering and heading for home care can turn to our nurses for the home nursing service. In addition to medical staff, our team at the clinic includes a social worker, a pastoral carer and a client worker for people with mental health problems.

Järve was also the second site in Estonia, after Tallinn Diaconal Hospital of EELC, to establish a hospice unit. Last year, the unit underwent a thorough renewal. I hope that the cosier interior helps seriously ill patients find a little comfort. Our hospice care team does everything in its power to support the patient as well as their loved ones at the end of their lives.”

A dear child has many names

During its long history, the birthday child has had many names. The hospital was built very close to the railway and during the Soviet era it was under the direct control of Riga railway organisation. For this reason, the hospital was officially called the Baltic Railway Organisation Hospital. The people simply called it the Railway Hospital and held it in high regard. “At times, some patients were even given the specific dates when the Railway Hospital functioned as the on-call hospital in Tallinn to allow them to be admitted as an emergency patient. This means that the hard-working and reliable hospital staff truly earned their reputation,” says Dr Helle Mäeltsemees, long-standing Chief Medical Officer at Järve Hospital, in recognition of the treatment offered by the hospital at the time.

In the 1990s, the hospital was called Tallinn Järve Hospital. In 2001, the hospital merged with East Tallinn Central Hospital and was renamed the Nursing Clinic, as it is known today.

“We are proud of the fact that Tallinn Järve Hospital was the first hospital in Estonia to be dedicated to the promotion of health and to join the international network of hospitals promoting health. We are grateful to be partners of the World Health Organization.  The enthusiasm of Dr Tiiu Härm, who continues to have an international reputation in this regard, was absolutely vital at that time,” remembers Dr Mäeltsemees.