King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital

King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) was built in the latter half of the 1970s and is located in a 2.2 squarekm area in North West Riyadh.
KKESH in association with King Saud University operates as a teaching hospital. Every year they take 12 doctors for a four-year residency program, whereafter they stay for a one-year fellowship. KKESH is a 260 bed important referral centre for the Middle East with its 12 operating rooms.

Approximately 10000 patients are operated on every year, of which about half are under full sedation. The rest are all under local anesthesia.
The anesthesia department has a clientele ranging from newborns all the way to geriatric patients.

Roughly 20% of patients are under 12 years of age.

The narcosis department features 6 Consultant Anesthesiologists, 5 Staff Anesthesiologists, 16 Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA "Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) whom are predominantly from the Nordic countries.
There are also 6 Anesthesia Aides, one secretary, and one narcosis nurse.
Narcotic Anaesthesia  is always administered by the  Anaesthetist, whereafter the Anaesthetc nurse takes over during the procedure.
Narcosis operations are performed in accordance with American guidelines and the hospital is JCACH accredited.

Riyadh is considered a Mega City today, and is currently one of the fastest growing cities in the world. The city has a unique combination of traditional and modern lifestyles. Several activities are available for expatriates.
KKESH is situated near the Diplomatic Quarters, where most of the embassies also reside. The DQ area is very large and is frequently used by many for exercise. Many of the embassies arrange entertainment in the form of music, balls, dinners, and bazaars. The Swedish embassy invites all Swedish nationals to celebrate the National holiday and even Lucia.
There is also a "Nordic Club" in Riyadh that distributes a monthly magazine to its members, providing information about current and upcoming events.
On the compounds where Westerners live you will find options such as going to the movies, opera, and even live theater performances. Once you have made contacts on the Western compound you will frequently find yourself invited to different parties.

There are also groups for those interested in marathon running, motorcycling, and also quadbiking in the desert. On Thursdays and Fridays, which is the weekend in the Muslim world, groups often gather for exercising and camping events outside of the city. There are also many modern malls for those that are into shopping. There are also traditional unique souks-markets. There is a large variety of restaurants and culinary options from almost every nationality. For those interested in a rich social life, the options in Riyadh are endless.

Kerstin  and Torsten