All public hospitals which were established and maintained, or purchased and maintained, under "An Act in relation to the establishment, purchase and maintenance of public hospitals in cities of less than one hundred thousand inhabitants," approved June 30, 1919, as amended, and which were being maintained immediately prior to January 1, 1942, shall be treated as properly established or purchased under this Division 23 and may be continued to be maintained under this Division 23. All cities whose electors have approved the levy of an annual tax for establishing and maintaining, or purchasing and maintaining, a public hospital under that Act may continue to levy the tax under this Division 23 without submitting the question of its levy to the electors for approval. The directors, other officers, and employees appointed under that Act who were in office or employed immediately prior to January 1, 1942 shall continue in their offices and employments under this Division 23 until the respective terms for which they were appointed have expired, subject to the provisions of this Division 23 as to removal.
65 ILCS 5/11-23-12