Elizabeth Knox

Description

The Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital is a Charitable Trust located at 10 Ranfurly Road Epsom Auckland

The Trust was established 100 years ago when Mrs Elizabeth Knox died leaving an extremely generous bequest to establish and operate a hospital to care for those in need

The current facility has 136 beds and provides care across the age continuum having a long history of providing high quality care for young physically disabled and elders

Significant planning is underway for redevelopment of the existing facilities on the current site

A Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of the Trust with daytoday operation of services being managed by the professional team

Mission Statement
Elizabeth Knox provides residential care for older people and physically disabled adults through short and longterm stays

The values we promote within the facility are

respect for the individual
provision of quality healthcare in a happy and caring environment
best use of resources
open communication between residents staff and families

History

Elizabeth and Charles Knox were some of the early settlers in Auckland in the leaving County Tyrone Northern Ireland in the early 1840slanding first in Sydney then two years later settling in NZ Charles Knox farmed 500 acres in West Tamaki within 20 years he had built up a prosperous farm and had gained a reputation as a philanthropist who generously assisted fellow settlers He died in 1871 after which time his wife Elizabeth took over this role

Elizabeth died in 1908 aged 99 leaving a bequest for the quotpurpose of building endowing and maintaining a hospital or home for poor people suffering from incurable diseasesquot In the early 1900s 30 years before the advent of Social Security there was very little provided in support of those who were destitute sick and or old It is interesting to note that that the provisions of Elizabeth Knoxs Will did not limit care to the elderly but rather for poor of any age

The inaugural meeting of the Trust Board was held in Auckland on 12 June 1911 with the Mayor Mr CJ Parr in the chair

The early task of the newly formed Board was the construction of the Home this was located on a portion of the Knox farm in Tamaki By August 1914 the Home was completed at a cost inclusive of water gas drainage system and furnishings of 25000 A number of patients were transferred from Auckland Hospital Knox also reached agreement with the Defence Department to accept wounded or sick soldiers returning from the war and in 1939 the fortunes of Knox improved with the advent of Social Security from which time a payment of 5 per day was paid per patient

In the early years of The Knox Home all staff lived on site and the farm continued until 1949

Through the 1950s improvements were made to the facilities however by the close of the 1960s the decision was taken to relocate to more central location

By October 1974 the new Home was open it had cost 1000000 and since the opening the facilities have been progressively developed

Today the Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital admits both subsidised and fee paying private residents with care extended across the age spectrum from young to older residents

The values of Elizabeth Knox continue with our team focused on providing high quality professional care with a commitment to independence and dignity irrespective of age or ability to pay