The must-know stories of NDH
The past and present of NDH
The history of NDH is deeply intertwined with True Love Hospital, which was founded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong in the last century and later renamed Fanling Hospital. At that time, the Pang family of Fanling Wai generously loaned land east of Ling Hill to the church to build a hospital, laying a vital foundation for primary healthcare in the North District.
In the old days, Fanling Hospital was filled with heartwarming stories. When heavy rains caused flooding, ambulanceman would use lifeboats to transport patients to the hospital. After the floods receded, patients would bring live chickens to the hospital to thank the medical staff. As the community grew, the scale of Fanling Hospital became insufficient. Patients with complex conditions often had to be grouped together and transferred on the same day to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for follow-up treatment.
Recognising this need, residents of the community and the government collaborated to plan a brand-new hospital facility on the site of the former Royal Hong Kong Police Cadet School's Dodwell's Ridge Camp. NDH commenced service in 1998 and fully took over the inpatient services of Fanling Hospital in 2001.
The first hospital planned and built by the HA
NDH was the first hospital entirely planned and constructed after the establishment of the Hospital Authority (HA). It was also the first time the HA adopted the design-and-build contract model – a single contractor is responsible for both design and construction, significantly reducing the construction time. In terms of architectural design, NDH broke the traditional hospital image by using soft pink for its exterior walls and installing glass windows at the ends of internal corridors to bring in natural light. Each floor of the hospital building is connected by a corridor approximately 170 metres long, linking multiple departments and allowing patients, staff, and visitors to reach their destinations easily.
The collective acts of kindness
The North District Hospital Charitable Foundation (NDHCF) was established in 2007. With the unwavering support of the community over the years, it has organised nearly a hundred charitable projects, including flag days and charity walks. As of March 2025, the foundation has raised HK$107 million, benefiting tens of thousands of patients. Every year, the Fung Ying Seen Koon organises the Lantern Auction charity event for NDHCF. The event was filled with excitement. Accompanied by the ritual chanting of Taoist masters, all 18 auspicious lanterns were successfully auctioned off this year. Together with donations and proceeds from the charity booth, the event raised over HK$2 million, setting a new record.
Challenges of the northernmost hospital
As the northernmost hospital in Hong Kong, NDH is located near several border control points, including Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau. The A&E Department handles cross-border emergency cases daily. Medical staff recall that during the peak period when non-local expectant mothers rushed to the border to give birth, the A&E Department faced tremendous pressure. On one occasion, a woman in labour arrived with no prenatal records. The A&E staff was shocked to discover that she was suffering from umbilical cord prolapse – a life-threatening condition for the baby if not treated immediately. Since NDH does not have Obstetrics Department, A&E staff issued an emergency call to an obstetrician at Prince of Wales Hospital for urgent support. Thanks to the team's rescue efforts, both the mother and the baby survived. With the establishment of cross-boundary notification mechanisms and policy changes, such high-risk incidents have significantly decreased.
