Historical Background
Queen Sawang Waddhana, now called Somdej Phra Sri Savarindira Baromma Raja Devi Phra Phan Vassa Ayika Chao, was a wife of King Chulalongkorn and the patron queen of the Red Unalom Society of Siam when it was initially established. As a relatively young woman, Queen Sawang Waddhana suffered two catastrophic losses one soon after the other, when two of her sons passed away. One of the two was her eldest, then His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis. Barely able to endure the grief caused by these events, Her Majesty fell ill and almost lost the ability to walk.

In 1897, King Chulalongkorn expressed his wish to find a seaside area where a place of rehabilitation could be built for the Queen. Here she could enjoy fine weather and regain her strength, following medical advice. Finally, the Onshore Naval Division 5's former office at Bangphra district in Chonburi was chosen. After a short stay there, as expected, the Queen began to show signs of improvement.

At that time, Chao Phraya Surasak Montri (Jerm Saengchuto), the director of a forestry company at Sri Racha and one of Her Majesty's care givers, came up with the idea of building a wooden manor house on his own piece of land, about one sen into the sea, to provide temporary residence to the Queen. Upon completion of the manor house, Her Majesty moved there, and after a year, her condition became significantly better. She was pleased to continue living in this district for a longer period of time, but since Choa Phraya Surasak Montri's manor house was founded in the sea, it offered limited space and relatively feeble shelter. Another royal residence at Sri Racha was initiated on land. During this entire time, it was common for Her Majesty's officers and servants, both civilians and soldiers, to suffer from various illnesses. As it was difficult to seek medical treatment in this remote district, the Queen initiated the establishment of a hospital, where not only her people but also local villagers could receive proper care. She asked พระบรมวงศ์เธอสมเด็จกรมพระสวัสดิ์วัตนวิศิษฎ์ and Chao Phraya Surasak Montri to be in charge of the implementation of this worthwhile charity project, and Dr. H. Adamson, M.D. was requested to help with the master architectural plan. It was agreed to construct a two-story thatch-roofed wooden office about four sen further into the sea from the original wooden residence. Later on, upon the completion of four additional thatch-roofed wooden buildings, Queen Sawang Wadhana, who temporarily moved back to Bangkok, graciously had พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ กรมหมื่วิวิธวรรณปรีชา, then Director-General of the Nursing Department, Ministry of Education, preside over the opening ceremony of the Hospital on September 10, 1902, which was Her Majesty's birthday. The Hospital has offered examination and treatment services to both in-patients and out-patients ever since.

In the following year, King Chulalongkorn paid a visit to the Queen and the Hospital on his trip to the provinces on the Eastern Seaboard. He gave permission to name the Hospital after the Queen as it was believed to be auspicious to all. It was then that the Hospital started to be called Queen Sawang Wadhana Hospital at Sri Racha. After another five or six years, ขุนปราณเขตต์นคร, who was in charge of the Hospital, told the Queen that the hospital buildings in the sea had dilapidated and could not shelter the staff and the patients from strong wind and storms. Since repairs were not considered a good investment, the Queen allocated her personal money to buy a piece of land at Sri Racha, where new hospital buildings were to be constructed. Upon completion, the Hospital was assigned to report to Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.

In 1918, Queen Sawang Wadhana Hospital was given to Chulalongkorn University under the Ministry of Education's supervision. A decade later, the Hospital was transferred to the Thai Red Cross Society where it has remained ever since. Because of Her Majesty's involvement in the establishment of the Hospital, it is only fitting that it be called the Queen Sawang Wadhana Hospital at Sri Racha.     

Mandates
Queen Sawang Wadhana Memorial Hospital works towards these goals:

1.   Provide curative, preventive, promotive, rehabilitation medical services to the public regardless of sex, age, ethnicity, religion, and financial status, to promote health of people in Chonburi and other provinces in the Eastern Sea Board.
2.   Cooperate with medical schools and the Medical Council of Thailand in enhancing the medical and nursing skills of both undergraduate and graduate students.
3.   Cooperate with other Thai Red Cross agencies in collection of blood, eye, and organ tissue, recruitment of Red Cross Volunteers, and relief efforts for man-made and natural disasters in Chonburi and other provinces in the Eastern Sea Board.
4.   Cooperate with local agencies in health promotion.

Responsibilities
1.   Develop the quality of examination and treatment services so that they are fast, safe, and effective.
2.   Support academic affairs, such as teaching and learning in medical and nursing schools, and studies and research.
3.   Collect blood to respond to patients' needs.
4.   Develop health promotion activities.
5.   Develop effective management and administration systems.
6.   Develop communications, including intra- and inter-office public relations, to create an image of good organization.
7.   Develop fundraising activities to further develop the hospital in accordance with Red Cross Principles.
8.   Provide personnel welfare to staff at all levels so as to boost their morale and give them incentives to stay with the hospital to prevent the problem of brain drain.
9.   Promote good relationships with other organizatoins.     

Objectives of Queen Sawang Waddhana Memorial Hospital.
1.   To support the government's health care services.     
2.   To offer an alternative in health care to the public.     
3.   To carry on the determination of Queen Sawang Waddhana.     
4.   To carry on the determination of the Thai Red Cross Society.

Network
Related Agencies :
1.   Provincial Health Office at Chonburi
2.   District Health Office at Sri Racha
3.   King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
4.   Chonburi Hospital
5.   Ao Udon Hospital
6.   Banglamung Hospital
7.   Medical Coordination Division
8.   Social Security Office, Chonburi
9.   Social Security Office, Chacherngsao
10.   Social Security Office, Rayong
11.   Management System Certification Institute (Thailand)
12.   Provicial Finance Office at Chonburi
13.   Municipal Office, Sri Racha
14.   Transportation Police Station, Sri Racha
15.   Transportation Office, Sri Racha
16.   Burapha University
17.   Insurance companies
18.   Life insurance companies