The Royal Hobart Hospital is a public hospital in the Hobart CBD, Tasmania, Australia. The hospital also functions as a teaching hospital in co-operation with the University of Tasmania. The hospital's research facilities are known as the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation. Also close to the hospital site is the Menzies Research Institute.

Royal Hobart Hospital
Map
Geography
LocationHobart, (Greater Hobart), Tasmania, Australia
Coordinates42°52′48″S 147°19′48″E / 42.8799°S 147.3299°E / -42.8799; 147.3299
Organisation
Care systemDHHS
TypeTeaching, Research
Affiliated universityUniversity of Tasmania
Services
Emergency departmentYes
Beds501
Helipads
HelipadICAO: YXHH
Number Length Surface
ft m
1 aluminium
History
Opened1804
Links
WebsiteOfficial Website
ListsHospitals in Australia

The hospital is run by the Tasmanian Government as part of the Department of Health and Human Services and is the largest hospital, and the largest employer, in Tasmania. The hospital provides services for all of southern Tasmania and has capacity for 400 patients. Many statewide services such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, major trauma, high-risk obstetrics, hyperbaric medicine, and neonatal intensive care are based at the hospital, with referrals coming in from the north and northwest.

The main entrance underwent construction for a new underground emergency department. This began operation in early 2007 with surrounding construction ongoing. A more recent hospital redevelopment project was initiated with A$565 million in funding, including a new women's and children's precinct, cancer service, intensive care unit, and day surgery facility.[1]

History edit

Royal Hobart Hospital is Australia's second-oldest hospital (after Sydney Hospital) as well as the longest-running civil institution of Tasmania, and first began serving the community in 1804.[2] It moved to its current site on Liverpool Street in 1820. In 1938 it was renamed from Hobart General Hospital to Royal Hobart Hospital and gained its own coat of arms.[3]

Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart edit

Hobart's Repatriation General Hospital was transferred to the Tasmanian public hospital system on 1 July 1992 and linked to the hospital through the Acute Care Program following the formation of the new agency.[4] It serves as a community rehabilitation site, as well as offering allied health and inpatient geriatric services.

Hobart Private Hospital edit

In November 1999 the Queen Alexandra wing was leased to become the Hobart Private Hospital.

Noteworthy personnel edit

  • Sir Dr James Willson Agnew KCMG (1815-1901), appointed Colonial Surgeon at the Royal Hobart Hospital, then the Hobart general Hospital, in 1845. He went on to be the 16th Premier of Tasmania from 8 March 1886 – 29 March 1887.
  • Dr Bruce Maitland Carruthers OBE (1892-1951), a former Director-General of Health in Tasmania was the senior house surgeon at Royal Hobart Hospital 1927–1935.[5]
  • Dr William Lodewyk Crowther (1817-1885), appointed as a medical officer at the hospital in 1860.[6] He was suspended in March 1869 over charges of mutilating the body of William Lanney, the last male Tasmanian Aboriginal.[6] He went on to be the 14th Premier of Tasmania from 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment". ESCO Industries. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  2. ^ Rimon, Wendy. "Royal Hobart Hospital", in: Alexander, Alison, ed. (2006). The Companion to Tasmanian History. Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies, University of Tasmania. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  3. ^ "History". Government of Tasmania. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  4. ^ 1992 Annual Report, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmanian Dept. of Community and Health Services. (Includes Repatriation General Hospital report)
  5. ^ "DR.B.M. CARRUTHERS DIES IN HOBART". The Examiner. Launceston, Tasmania. 30 November 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 1 February 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b Crowther, W. E. L. H., "Crowther, William Lodewyk (1817–1885)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 24 June 2020

External links edit

  Media related to Royal Hobart Hospital at Wikimedia Commons