Learning from the Order of St. John as old players in the 11 th Century Foundations of the Hospital Movement.

In 1113 The Pope recognised the Order of St. John as an independent religious Order consisting of monks and nuns whose special tasks were to care for the sick during the Crusades. ‘Brothers’ built early hospitals. This one in Jerusalem to accommodate 2000 patients regardless of religion, nationality or sex.

11 th Century Brothers developed: Superb hygiene standards. Hand Washing, Use of Gold & Silver for effective sterilisation. Drugs/ Herbal medicines. Recognised the need for tranquillity for healing and isolation for infectious disease.

EARLY HOSPITALLERS BELIEVED EVERY POOR MAN AND WOMAN WAS CHRIST AND THEREFORE THE MOST LUXURIOUS TREATMENT AVAILABLE WAS PROVIDED FOR THEM.

Criteria for early Carers was carefully understood by means of each arm and point of the cross representing a quality one must possess in order to carry out the ‘hospital work’. 5 = Righteousness 6 = Meekness 7 = Mercy 8 = Purity 1 = Comforting 2 = Humility 3 = Peacemaking 4 = Endurance

Early Hospitallers wore a white, eight pointed cross symbolic to the order. It was adopted from the Republic of Amalfi. This cross is still globally recognised today.

11 th Century Hospitallers have left a legacy of care. Little did the Hospitallers realise that their insights and strategies would constitute the ‘core’ of health promotion as we know it in the 21 st Century. The Order of St. John has over 200,000 volunteers and staff in 45 national St. John organisations around the globe each unit delivering health care according to the needs of the local community.

11 th Century Brothers…. Contemporary ‘Serving Brother’ Michael Jackson….

In 1882, the Order of St. John, returning to its ancient origins, opened a hospital in Jerusalem for the treatment of eye disease, the first in the Middle East. The hospital helps 60,000 patients each year. Carries out 6,000 major operations. The hospital sends out an Outreach team to remote villages. Many Health Professionals are sent here for specialist training and experience.

World Health Organisation (WHO) United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria AIDS Awareness Programme Community Health Services in Malawi Antigua & Barbuda Health Education In Schools programme Bermuda Initiative for Automatic Emergency Defibrillators Fiji Ambulance Subscription Scheme Ghana National Immunisation Days Gibraltar Emergency Ambulance Services Hong Kong Dental Health Programme Malaysia Haemodialysis Service Malta Rescue Service Pakistan Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulance service, Family Planning Papua New Guinea Services for the Blind United Kingdom First Aid, Care, Training Zimbabwe Health Auxiliary UNITED NATIONS (UN)