Sophia Hemmet Hospital- Founded by a Compassionate Queen

Sophiahemmet Hospital, located in the Östermalm district of Stockholm, has a rich history. It is one of Swedens oldest hospitals - and surely the most beautiful. Founded in 1889 by Queen Sophia, it was envisioned as a modern institution for compassionate and innovative care. In 1887, Sweden´s Queen Sophia and her husband King Oscar II laid the foundations for a new hospital, motivated by growing dissatisfaction with Stockholm´s public hospitals and the care for the elderly. In October 1889, the new hospital and nursing home was opened. You still can read the institutions motto “All For The Glory Of God” in golden letters, when entering the main entrance, according to the Queen´s wish. The nurses who meet you by the entrance for directions, still wear the caps which were worn by the Sophia sisters ever since. They are full of symbolic meaning. The white color represents levity, the black band solemnity, the lace stands for joy. The Ten Commandments are symbolised by the pleats on the cap, and the pleat in the lace shows the Queen’s crown. Queen Sophia had a vision to improve the quality of healthcare by giving nurses a better and broader education, containing both theoretical education and intensive clinical training in different medical fields. This was a new concept in Sweden. The Queen was inspired by Florence Nightingale´s concept at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, which became known all over Europe in the 1880s and laid the ground for modern health care, with hygiene och dignity I fokus. In that spirit, Sophiahemmet University was founded, with the aim to promote human health and wellbeing by developing better methods of healthcare by well-trained nurses. Nurses who had more knowledge in hygiene and caretaking of sick and elderly people, which became more institutionalised during the late 1800s in urban areas. The Royal Family is still an important patron of Sophiahemmet. The Chairperson of the hospital is traditionally appointed by the King, still today. Princess Sofia of Sweden is currently Honorary Chairperson and it seems to be a coincident that she shares her name with the hospital. Sophiahemmet University still is a popular and renowned school for nursing and the graduates proudly wear the white caps on graduation day.