Your Hospital by the River Mission Statement Your Hospital Our Mission is achieved by

+ Practising clinical excellence + Attending to individual patient needs + Leading in teaching + Providing quality in our service

+ Contributing to heath research + Promoting healthy lifestyles + Responding to the special + Valuing our health care team needs of Veterans + Meeting the changing needs of the community

After 70 years of outstanding service Concord Repatriation General Hospital has a well-earned reputation for excellence in providing healthcare. Building on its proud heritage of caring for the Veteran community, the hospital now services the local communities of Concord, Strathfield, Burwood and beyond. The hospital has received consecutive years of accreditation from the Australian Council on Health Care Standards, and consecutive Accreditation Awards from the Postgraduate Medical Council of NSW for the exemplary training of postgraduate doctors.

As a 750 - bed teaching hospital of the University of , Concord offers a comprehensive range of specialty and sub-specialty services, many of which are recognised nationally and internationally as centres of excellence. Some of these include: burns, colorectal surgery, laparoscopic surgery, molecular biology and genetic laboratory, aged and extended care and gastroenterology.

This publication offers an insight into the history of Concord Repatriation General Hospital and its exceptional service to the surrounding districts.

Welcome to ‘Your hospital by the river’. Walker’s ambition to build a hospital 1930 – 1939 A Piece of History in the grounds of Yaralla and he Eadith Walker was made a engendered this same enthusiasm in 1790 – 1800 merchants in Hobart and later in Commander, and then a Dame of the his daughter. In 1792, Governor Phillip established Sydney. British Empire for her war assistance the Government Farm of Longbottom, When Thomas reached the age of After Thomas Walker’s death in 1886, and widespread charity. When she along Parramatta Road, consisting of 18, he was sent to Sydney and for 15 his will set aside 100,000 pounds and died on 8 October 1937, her fortune 936 acres skirting Hen and Chicken years worked with his uncle building a the northern part of the Yaralla Estate, had been reduced to 265,000 pounds, Bay. prosperous business. When his uncle at Rocky Point for the Thomas Walker most of it left to the Returned Soldier’s Convalescent Hospital for Women. League. In May 1798, James Williamson was retired Thomas and a cousin took This hospital was later completed with granted 40 acres, which was named charge. On her death, half of Thomas Walker’s funds supplied by Eadith Walker who Rocky Point. This property was estate was passed to the next of kin personally advanced 50,000 pounds, passed on to a Mr Levy, who tried to 1850 – 1900 and the remaining part was placed in with the opening occurring in 1893. erect a house on it, but as there was Thomas married Miss Jane Hart a charitable trust fund, management no fresh water in the neighbourhood, of which was subject to the Walker and purchased the Yaralla estate 1900 – 1929 he mixed mortar with salt water. on the at Concord Trust Act of 1938. The Trustees of Near completion the house fell to the and gradually acquired surrounding Eadith Walker continued to improve the Thomas Walker Estate proposed ground due to the wet and slippery properties, including Levy’s Folly, the Yaralla. The estate became the that the NSW Government should mortar. Mr Levy proceeded to rebuild Nichols’ orange plantation and Rocky centre of many charity events, which purchase both the Yaralla and Dame the house, which again fell down. The Point. Yaralla grew to consist of 306 continued until the outbreak of World Eadith Walker Estates for the purpose area of land became known as Levy’s acres (124 hectares) with frontages War I. It was while staying at Yaralla of establishing a memorial hospital to Folly. to Concord Road and Major’s, Yaralla in July 1914 that the Governor- be called the “Dame Eadith Walker General, Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson, Convalescent Hospital for Men”. The land immediately north of and Horseshoe or Brays Bays. received the first official warning Longbottom was granted to Isaac In 1939 management of the property After the birth of his daughter Eadith in from the British Government of the Nichols, the first Postmaster General came under the control of the Royal 1861, Thomas supervised workmen to approach of general war. of . ’ build a mansion, a magnificent white Prince Alfred Hospital Board of father, Major Nichols resided on the house designed by , Towards the end of 1915, when the Directors. Shortly after the outbreak property for a number of years and the surrounded by trees, shrubs and wounded began arriving home, Eadith of World War II, the Army Department Bay near the residence is still known flower gardens. Completed in 1870, Walker became a benefactor to the was looking for a site to erect a base today as Major’s Bay. it still stands surrounded by beautiful tubercular soldiers who had been hospital for the 2nd Military District. gardens and outbuildings designed by housed at North Head Quarantine The Board suggested that the 40 1800 – 1849 the late Sir . Station. - acre block of land separating the grounds of the two Walker Hospitals Thomas Walker was born in Leith, Thomas became well known for his In 1917, she established a camp for Scotland in 1804, the son of a AIF tubercular soldiers in the ground would be ideal for this purpose philanthropy. He supported a number because of its central position. This wealthy businessman. His uncle, of needy families and the Yaralla of Yaralla. For years, she maintained William Walker, came to the colony the camp’s staff without any financial block was referred to as “The Folly” or Cottages can still be seen from “Levy’s Folly”. The Department of the and established a firm of general Concord Road. It was always Thomas support from the Government. Army agreed and the Commonwealth 1948. A new Intensive Care Unit was Hospital Ship, Centaur, established of Australia purchased the land from opened in June 1976 located on in memory of the Centaur and those 1954 saw the State visit to the hospital the State Government. the second floor of the multi storey who lost their lives. The window was by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and building. The hospital’s Emergency installed on 13 May 1990. H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. and Accident Centre, which opened on 1940 – 1969 On 1 July 1993, the Hospital The University of Sydney has been 1 July 1976, was developed in liaison The hospital was established in transferred to the NSW State Health affiliated with the hospital since the with the State Health Department. Its November 1940 as the 113th System and changed its name post war special intake of 1948. A opening extended health care beyond Australian General Hospital. In to Concord Repatriation General Clinical School at Concord was the veterans to members of the local February 1941 the Commanding Hospital. Significant redevelopment opened in 1963. This partnership is community. Officer, Lieutenant Colonel William was undertaken to provide a state- the foundation of the hospital‘s status Wood and a nucleus of staff arrived to In consultation with the NSW Health of-the-art Emergency Department, as a centre of excellence in medical take quarters at the hospital. Commission, a four bed Burns Unit Coronary Care Unit and Burns Unit, education. 1500 workmen were brought on site to was opened at the hospital on 23 May under the Central Sydney Area Health The Volunteer Service was construct the temporary pavilion type 1977, supported by the sophisticated Service. established in 1968 with only a facilities of the modern Intensive Care wards, operating theatres, an x-ray On 30 November 1994 the Duchess handful of volunteers. Today, there Unit. department, pharmacy, kitchen, boiler of York officially opened the Motor are more than 100 volunteers who house, and living quarters to create Neurone Disease Association. In this generously donate their time and a complete operational hospital. 1980 – 1989 year also, the 113th AGH Memorial expertise to provide care and comfort In all, 34 wards were constructed Concord’s Metabolic Unit was opened Chapel was opened, to serve as a for the patients of Concord Hospital. in the pavilion section for patient on 19 February 1980, to test sufferers haven for peace and reflection for The Volunteers provide a number of accommodation. of many metabolic disorders such as staff, patients and relatives. services for both patients and hospital osteoporosis, Paget’s Disease and By the end of February 1941, the staff and fundraising ventures such as In 1995, Nurses’ Home No. 1 was also kidney disorder associated with number of workers had increased to the weekly markets and raffles. They converted into the Concord Hospital bone disease. more than 2000, building the multi- continue to raise much-needed funds Medical Centre. The Centre houses storey block and the two Nurses’ to purchase new equipment for the the specialist medical consulting Homes. The multi-storey building was hospital. 1990 – 1999 suites, retail outlets and also the completed in 1942 and the architects, On 7 March 1990 Prime Minister hospital’s Endocrinology, Dermatology Stephenson and Turner, were 1970 – 1979 Bob Hawke opened the Surgical and and Podiatry Departments. awarded the Sulman Memorial Prize Diagnostic Facility. This included 10 The completion of the Clinical On Remembrance Day the same for merit in Architecture in 1946. The modern operating rooms, a Central Sciences Building in 1973 greatly year, the ANZAC Health and Medical builders were F.T.Eastment & Son. Sterilising Unit, Radiology and Nuclear facilitated both undergraduate and Foundation was launched. The Medicine Centres and Administration With the cessation of World War postgraduate training as well as establishment of the Foundation Offices. II, The Repatriation Commission providing a large lecture theatre for further strengthened Concord assumed full administration of the a variety of hospital functions and Construction included an impressive Hospital’s commitment towards hospital on 19 May 1947 and take- meetings. entrance foyer to the hospital, which its veteran patients, with the aim over was completed on 14 December features a stained glass window of the of researching men’s health and diseases of lifestyle and ageing. of the campus. Changes to the As the hospital’s transformation 24. Patient escorts work closely with hospital’s physical appearance progressed, inpatient wards in Patient Enquiries and the Admission 1996 saw the opening of the Kokoda involved designs that would cohesively the North and East Wings of the Department to provide a hospitality Track Memorial Walkway. The integrate the modern extensions Multi-building were extended by a service for arriving patients. This Walkway is a community project with the existing structure, thereby spectacular glass walled extension personalised service has enhanced involving Council, maintaining the valued heritage status with views of Parramatta River to the the friendly culture of Concord Concord Rotary, the Returned of the hospital’s original architecture. Harbour Bridge. Hospital and has been well received and Services League of Australia, by both patients and staff. Department of Urban Affairs and The key objectives of the hospital’s Features of this extension include: Planning and Concord Repatriation new design included the streamlining On 1 January 2005 the new Sydney • One, two and four-bed patient General Hospital. The 800 - metre of patient care by the expansion of South West Area Health Service accommodation, all with ensuite walkway runs from the Hospital to inpatient space to accommodate (SSWAHS) came into effect, bathrooms Rhodes station, serving as a lasting modern services, co-located with amalgamating the South Western memorial to all veterans who served extensive new ambulatory care and • A hot floor, including a 20-bed Sydney Area Health Service in World War II. The Walkway features clinical administration facilities. Critical Care Unit with Central Sydney Area Health a memorial centrepiece, education Service. The process of streamlining The Resource Transition Plan (RTP) • A Statewide Burns Service with centre, rainforest area, rose garden administration and reducing for the “new” hospital incorporated the a 17-bed treatment unit, dedicated entry, café and mangrove boardwalk. duplication within the health system development of: theatre, research facilities and skin further enhanced direct patient care July 1999 saw the opening of the Ethel culture laboratory • Ambulatory care facilities on all services. Lane Nurses’ Museum. The museum levels throughout the main building. • Dedicated bronchoscopy suites has a number of volunteers dedicated June 2005 saw the launch of the • 2 cardiac catheter laboratories to the history and preservation of • The building of a new structure over Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) nursing memorabilia relating to 100 the Emergency Department adding • Neurosciences laboratories machine. The MRI is the most years of military nursing. The museum an additional four storeys and • Ambulatory Care Clinics is kept extremely busy with the • The renovation of existing ramp • A 10-bed haemodialysis unit growing number of tour groups that wards adjacent to the main complex visit each year. to house a new General Geriatric • Ambulatory Care Endoscopy Unit Other developments included the and Rehabilitation Precinct. (ACE) establishment of the NSW Institute of The opening in September 2003 of Sports Medicine and the designation three wards of the Rehabilitation, Aged of Concord Repatriation General Care and Medicine Precinct (RAMP) Hospital as the Olympic Hospital for provided a holistic environment for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. care of the elderly.

2000 to Present The Patient Escort Service also commenced in 2003, initially with The year 2000 marked the new 7 volunteers, and currently around millennium and a major transformation advanced of its kind, enabling the “dual source” CT. The technology is facility. The new state of the art alone research facility dedicated to diagnosis and treatment of a wide particularly critical in Cardiac imaging, centre has separate female and male asbestos related disease. It will also range of medical conditions with where the heart beats once or more High Dependency Units to promote support projects including education, increased accuracy and success. every second. a safer environment and more and prevention; mesothelioma tissue specialised care for patients who are banking; clinical research; molecular Also in 2005, Yaralla Child Care In March 2007 Concord Hospital at a vulnerable period in their illness. biology; epidemiology and health care Centre relocated to its new purpose- officially opened two fully-integrated NSW Premier Morris Iemma officially delivery. built premises. digital operating rooms dedicated opened the new Concord Centre to endoscopic and minimally After several years of planning, The new Centre has increased for Mental Health on 20 June 2008, invasive surgery (MIS). The the Concord Hospital Pathology numbers in the under two - year old claiming it would “revolutionise mental opening marked the completion of Department’s new Blood Collection groups, bringing enrolments to 60 health services”. stage one of Concord Hospital’s facility was officially opened by children per day with approximately 5-year Redevelopment Program, By co-locating with a major general General Manager Gary Miller on 100 children attending each week. The upgrading the 10-room operating hospital such as Concord, the new July 23, 2009. The three collection Centre is fully air - conditioned and theatre complex to support delivery mental health facilities will provide rooms have been fitted with new has modern facilities. The new outdoor of technologically advanced and better access to diagnostic equipment blood collection recliners, there is an areas have been professionally innovative surgical procedures in a and treatment services, including improved and bigger waiting area with landscaped with children’s safety tertiary teaching environment. access to the MRI. television and patient-assist toilet, requirements and needs well and the installation of a vacuum tube accommodated for. As part of the NSW Health Smoke A new research facility dedicated to station will ensure prompt delivery Free Environment Policy, Concord improving the treatment, prevention In December 2005 the NSW Minister of pathology specimens from the Hospital went completely smoke free and early diagnosis of asbestos- for Health, John Hatzistergos officially collection rooms to the laboratory – for staff, patients and visitors from 2 related disease was opened in opened the new Aged Care and minimising delays in getting blood July 2007. January 2009 by Prime Minister Kevin Rehabilitation facilities, consisting of results in time for clinic appointments. Rudd, NSW Premier Nathan Rees two acute aged care units, a general In a major step forward Concord and the Governor of NSW, Professor The Cancer Survivorship Gymnasium rehabilitation ward, which includes a Hospital opened its Medical Marie Bashir. was officially launched by Professor stroke rehabilitation unit, an aged care Assessment Unit (MAU) on 31 March Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW on 9 rehabilitation ward and psychogeriatric 2008 to facilitate the care of patients The Bernie Banton Centre – named September 2009.The gymnasium will unit. The area also features a day requiring short admissions and in honour of the late asbestos play an integral role in determining the hospital and outpatients clinics improve the flow of patients from the campaigner – is designed to be a effects of physical activity on quality of and community nurses. The new Emergency Department. The Medical research centre of excellence. The life, which is of primary importance to modernised facilities provide health Assessment Units are part of a wider ground floor is occupied by the cancer survivors. The gym is equipped care for the aged and rehabilitation of strategy to address the challenges of Asbestos Diseases Research Institute with a range of exercise machines adults of all ages. providing health care to a population (ADRI) while the first floor houses the to cover many training types such which is ageing and getting sicker. expanding ANZAC Research Institute. In 2006 the latest generation of as cardio and resistance training, The facility aims to integrate the CT scanners was purchased for On 30 April 2008 Rozelle Hospital physical assessment and core stability research efforts of both institutes. Concord Hospital. The CT scanner relocated to the hospital’s campus training, and will cater for patients with is of the latest generation – so called into a new purpose built 174 bed ADRI is the world’s largest stand- a range of fitness levels. The Will To Make A Fundraising Department on 9767 6038 or On 30 April 2010 Julia Gillard The $10.5m project will feature a state Difference e-mail: [email protected] MP, Minister for Employment and of the art Clinical Skills Laboratory. Many people have demonstrated Workplace Relations, officially Included in the new building will be a thoughtfulness and generosity by Your Support launched the new Australian 200 seat auditorium, lecture rooms including in their Will a bequest The support the hospital receives is Mesothelioma Registry at the and tutorial rooms. to Concord Repatriation General very much appreciated as it assists us Asbestos Diseases Research Institute. The building will be used by doctors, Hospital. These bequests have above and beyond our hospital funding. The Registry will replace the voluntary nurses and allied health services, all supported research and development. These extra funds are vital in maintaining system previously in place and of which contribute to the running of Concord’s brochure “The Will to Make the excellent standard of our medical collect all notifications of new cases the hospital. Importantly, continuing a Difference” is designed to help those research and assist in the continual of mesothelioma from the state and education of staff, including those from seeking information about the bequest upgrading of our facilities. Contributions territory cancer registries and detailed process. can be sent to: The General Manager, the new Mental Health precinct, is information on the past exposure to Concord Repatriation General Hospital, planned for the building. If you would like a free copy of our asbestos of mesothelioma patients. brochure or have any queries in Hospital Road, Concord NSW 2139. The Education Centre, together The registry will be managed by a relation to donations or bequests, Donations of $2 or more are tax consortium led by the Cancer Institute with the ANZAC and Bernie Banton please contact the Marketing and deductible. of NSW. Research buildings, will provide a central focus on education and research at Concord Hospital, adding Current Developments Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Road, Concord NSW 2139 to its growth as a university teaching Marketing & Fundraising Dept. Phone: 02 9767 6038 or Fax: 02 9767 6180 Patients suffering from chronic hospital. kidney conditions in the Title (Dr / Mr / Mrs / Ms): …..…… Name: ...………...... ……………………………….. are to benefit from a new satellite With the strategic organisation of Address: …………………………………………………………………..…………………...... renal dialysis unit based at Concord similar services within a modern Hospital. facility, Concord Hospital aims to build Postcode: ……………………. Phone: …………………………………………………...... upon its reputation for excellence The $1.6m modern Renal Dialysis I wish to donate: o $10 o $20 o $50 o $75 o $100 o Other:…………… in clinical expertise, teaching and Satellite Unit will feature 14 new renal research. In conjunction with Sydney o Mastercard o Visa o Cash o Cheque chairs and treat 56 outpatients each Local Health Network, Concord year, in addition to inpatients treated Please make cheques payable to: Concord Repatriation General Hospital. Hospital continues “Building today, at the Hospital’s existing in-care renal caring for tomorrow”. dialysis unit. It is expected that the new unit will be opened in 2011. Expiry: ………./……… Signature:………………………………………………… In 2009, the Federal Government announced the latest round of Capital o Please send me information about leaving a bequest in my Will to Concord Hospital. Development Grants which included Please detach and post this slip to: Marketing & Fundraising Department $3.5m for the Medical Education Concord Repatriation General Hospital building at Concord Hospital. Hospital Road, Concord NSW 2139

Artist’s impression of Entry to Clinical Education Building. Thank you for your support.

Health CONCORD Sydney REPATRIATION GENERAL HOSPITAL Local Health Network