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From Beanefield to a New Era
St. Jude Hospital opened in 1966 in a building that was never meant to be here. Its history has been shaped by compassionate service, partnership, loss, resilience and renewal.
Explore eight milestones from Beanefield Military Hospital in 1942 to the rebuilt Augier facility.
Eight Defining Chapters
Choose a year to move through St. Jude Hospital’s history. Each chapter opens in the same story stage, with additional detail available when you want it.
A Military Mistake Becomes a Medical Opportunity
During the Second World War, a decoding mix-up sent hospital materials intended for Trinidad to Saint Lucia. Beanefield Military Hospital was completed, then closed after the war and stood abandoned for years.
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During the Second World War, Britain leased Beanefield and Reduit in Saint Lucia to the United States. A decoding mix-up sent prefabricated hospital materials and a construction team to DAWN, the codename for Saint Lucia, instead of LAWN, the codename for Trinidad.
Although the mistake was discovered while construction was underway, the Beanefield Military Hospital was completed. After the war, the facility closed, its equipment was removed, and the buildings stood abandoned for years.
The Birth of a Community Hospital
Teams reclaimed the neglected military hospital, repairing the buildings and equipment and training local workers. The facility was named St. Jude Hospital, reflecting the scale of the challenge and the determination behind it.
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The former military hospital was reclaimed from years of neglect. Vegetation and animals had overtaken parts of the building, but teams cleaned, repaired, patched and painted the facility. Local workers were also trained to maintain equipment.
The hospital was named St. Jude Hospital, after the patron saint of lost causes - a name that reflected the scale of the challenge and the determination behind the project.
The People Who Saw Possibility
Mother Irma and the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother saw potential in the abandoned facility. With government support, they began the difficult work of restoring it for community healthcare.
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The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, led by Mother Irma, recognised the potential of the abandoned medical facility while serving in Saint Lucia. On 3 April 1965, Hogarth Belizaire accompanied Mother Irma to inspect the site.
The Government of Saint Lucia, led by Chief Minister John Compton, agreed that the Sisters could develop and manage the facility. Sister Mark Schilling and others helped organise the difficult work of clearing vegetation, repairing boilers and equipment, and restoring the buildings.
St. Jude Hospital Formally Opens
St. Jude Hospital formally opened on 5 September 1966 as a charity hospital providing care without charge. Its outpatient service and early nursing education helped establish a lasting role in southern Saint Lucia.
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On 5 September 1966, Mother Irma and the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother formally opened St. Jude Hospital on behalf of the Catholic Church as a charity hospital providing care without charge.
An outpatient clinic helped meet an urgent need in the south. Support from doctors, technicians and other partners from Saint Lucia and abroad helped the hospital develop a strong reputation for care. In October 1969, the hospital's first class of nurses graduated.
Government Builds on the Legacy
In 1992, St. Jude Hospital was handed over to the Government of Saint Lucia and became a statutory organisation managed by a Board of Directors. It continued serving the south with a maximum capacity of 110 beds.
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In 1992, St. Jude Hospital was handed over to the Government of Saint Lucia, ending more than two decades of management by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.
The hospital became a government statutory organisation managed by a Board of Directors. The hospital operated at a maximum capacity of 110 beds and continued its commitment to accessible, holistic and patient-focused healthcare.
Devastation by Fire
A major fire on 9 September 2009 devastated the Augier hospital, left the 97-bed referral facility non-functional and claimed three lives. The disaster led to a national decision to reconstruct St. Jude Hospital.
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A major fire devastated the hospital at Augier, destroying the surgical ward and operating theatres and rendering the 97-bed referral hospital non-functional.
The disruption affected essential services for the south of Saint Lucia. Three lives were lost. The event became one of the most painful chapters in the hospital's history and led to a national decision to reconstruct St. Jude Hospital.
How Services Continued at George Odlum Stadium
Within 24 hours, George Odlum Stadium was adapted to restore hospital services. The 68-bed temporary facility became St. Jude Hospital’s home for many years.
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In less than 24 hours, George Odlum Stadium was transformed into an emergency medical facility. Workers and engineers constructed wards, upgraded water and electrical infrastructure, installed air-conditioning and supported the rapid restoration of hospital services.
The stadium became a 68-bed facility and served as St. Jude Hospital's temporary home for many years - a powerful example of staff commitment and national resilience.
A Long Reconstruction Journey
Plans for a permanent modern hospital launched a long reconstruction journey. From late 2022, renewed progress and financing supported completion of St. Jude Hospital and rehabilitation of George Odlum Stadium.
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The reconstruction vision proposed both temporary accommodation at the original site and a permanent modern healthcare facility. The planned hospital was described as tropical, sustainable and multi-purpose, with improved clinical capacity and new services.
The reconstruction journey extended over many years. From late 2022, the Government reported renewed progress and financing from the Saudi Fund for Development to complete St. Jude Hospital and support the rehabilitation of George Odlum Stadium.
Handover and Preparation for Occupation
The rebuilt Augier facility was formally handed over in November 2025. The next phase focused on systems testing, equipment validation, clinical readiness and a staged plan for occupation.
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In November 2025, the rebuilt St. Jude Hospital facility at Augier was formally handed over after construction was completed. This marked a major milestone, but it did not mean an immediate full move into the building.
The period that followed focused on preparing the hospital for occupation: testing major building systems, validating equipment, confirming clinical readiness, organising support services and planning the staged movement of functions from the temporary arrangements.
Moving Into the New Facility
After handover, St. Jude Hospital began a phased move into the rebuilt Augier facility. During 2026, departments and support functions transitioned in stages as systems, equipment and operational readiness were confirmed.
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After handover, St. Jude Hospital entered a phased move-in period. This was not a single-day relocation. Units, offices, equipment and support functions were introduced in stages as systems were tested and spaces were prepared.
During 2026, official updates described ongoing commissioning, staff preparation and gradual occupation of the Augier site. Administration and Finance had begun operating there, laundry activity had started, and Physiotherapy had transitioned to the new hospital. Other services were being prepared in sequence so that safety, equipment performance and operational readiness could be confirmed before wider activation.
This stage represents the transition from a completed building to a functioning hospital. It reflects the practical work of settling into the new facility and restoring services in a structured and controlled way.
What the Move-In Phase Included
- Commissioning of building systems and utilities
- Installation, testing and validation of medical equipment
- Staff orientation and operational readiness
- Movement of administrative and support functions
- Phased opening of clinical areas
- Preparation for broader restoration of patient services
More Than a Building
Care for the South
St. Jude Hospital has remained a critical healthcare institution for southern Saint Lucia.
Learning and Training
Nursing education and professional learning have been part of the hospital’s history since its earliest years.
Shared Responsibility
Religious sisters, government, staff, volunteers, donors and international partners have all contributed to the hospital’s development.
Service Through Adversity
The response to the 2009 fire demonstrated the determination to continue serving patients despite extraordinary circumstances.