Our Hospital: Greenslopes Private Hospital History - 1990s

Hospital History - 1990s

1990s

THE DIGGERSDOZEN

The ‘Diggers Dozen', a group of volunteer workers, was established at Greenslopes in 1990 as Friends of the Hospital. In May of 1990, meetings were held to determine how volunteers would be recruited, what their duties and responsibilities would be, and how they would be trained.

Sixteen volunteers were present at the formal launch of the Friends of the Hospital on 28 May 1990 including the groups prime movers Glenis Jay, Margaret Bawden, and Dr. John Sparrow, and following a successful six-months trial period, the Diggers Dozen became an integral part of the hospitals daily functioning.

When Ramsay Health Care took over the running of Greenslopes in 1995, volunteers were concerned that they might be disbanded. However, the new management enthusiastically embraced the work of the volunteers and continues to encourage and support their valuable contributions.

GREENSLOPES IS PRIVATISED

The announcement to put Greenslopes out to tender was made in 1994. The successful tenderer, Ramsay Health Care, assumed responsibility for Greenslopes hospital on January 6th 1995.

The contract ensures that, although the hospital could now take in private patients, veterans would continue to receive the quality and diversity of services provided prior to the sale. Renamed Greenslopes Private Hospital, the complex continues as a university teaching hospital, partly funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

IMPROVING QUALITY OF CARE

Through the latter half of the 1990s, Ramsay Health Care continued developing the hospital campus, adding and improving facilities and services. Some of the early additions included:

• the Keith Payne Unit, a 30-bed psychiatric unit opened in 1996
• a 40-bed rehabilitation unit opened in 1997
• a cardiac catheter laboratory opened in 1997
• the Coronary Care Unit opened in 1998
• the Florence Syer Unit, a 30-bed sub-acute unit for patients awaiting nursing home places opened in 1999.

MAJOR NEW CARDIAC FACILITY

In 1999, Greenslopes Private Hospital introduced cardiac surgery. By 2002, the Hospital was the major provider of cardiac services on Brisbane's southside.

RAMSAY HEALTH CARE

Ramsay Health Care was founded by Paul Ramsay in 1964. By 2002, with a portfolio of 25 hospitals throughout Australia, Ramsay Health Care was Australia’s second largest private hospital operator. Following the takeover of the Repatriation General Hospital, Paul Ramsay made a commitment to retain the essential character of the hospital and its strong traditions of veteran care. As part of this commitment, Ramsay Health Care built Anzac memorials and dedicated displays that perpetuate the hospitals history and heritage.

KEITH PAYNE UNIT

Prior to 1996, psychiatric inpatient services at Greenslopes were housed in one of the old pavilion ward blocks. In that year, Ramsay Health Care opened a modern, air-conditioned facility offering inpatient, outpatient, day-hospital services, and recreational areas.

Warrant Officer Keith Payne was, in 1969, a member of the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam. On 24 May, the South Vietnamese battalion he commanded was attacked by a large force of North Vietnamese. Although wounded several times, Payne organised a fighting withdrawal and saved the lives of many of his men. In 1970, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth presented WO Payne with the Victoria Cross aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in Brisbane.

FLORENCE SYER UNIT

In 1999 Ramsay Health Care recommissioned one of the old pavilion wards as interim accommodation facility for patients waiting for places in nursing homes. The refurbished unit was opened in June 1999 and named the Florence Syer Unit. Mrs Syer was present at the opening ceremony.

The naming of the ward commemorates her remarkable war service. One of many Australian nurses evacuated from Singapore in 1942, she survived the sinking of her ship and imprisonment by the Japanese. Mrs Syer died in Greenslopes Private Hospital in July 2002 at the age of 86.