How it all started

The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent started as a Special Care Baby Unit and the first significant steps towards special care were two incubators positioned in the corner of the adult ward, in the maternity wing in All Saints Hospital by Dr Oliver Fisher. At that time there were no special care facilities for premature or sick babies.One of his major research interests was the care of the new born child and it was this that eventually led to the establishment of the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit at All Saints Hospital.

Dr Oliver Fisher joined the staff of All Saints Hospital, Chatham as consultant paediatrician in October 1956 until his retirement in March 1981. It was without doubt that it was Dr Fisher's foresight and tenacity combined with his fundraising efforts that laid the groundwork in making the unit the success it is today. In 1983 the new unit was finally built in the grounds of All Saints Hospital and the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit was finally achieved. It had taken Dr Oliver Fisher 27 years to fulfil his dreams of a Special Care Baby Unit. In 1985 he became the president of the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust until his death in 1997. In 1999 the Unit moved to Medway Maritime Hospital and became the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit.

The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust is very proud to have continued to help support the Neonatal to the present day.