Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital

When built as the Perth Chest Hospital, the site was initially constructed on the north by Verdun Street, with Thomas Street to the east. Thomas Street provides a route to Subiaco from Nedlands along the western border of King's Park. Original tram tracks ended along the east side of Thomas Street, however the tram service has since been closed and has been replaced by bus services. The bus services include Metro Bus Co, Parlour Cars, WA Transport and Beam Bus Co. Thomas street is now the entrance to a car park.[5]

The development of QEII MC and SCGH can be categorised into five groups. Storey-heights are indicative of above ground height.

When SCGH was built as Perth Chest Hospital (1958), it was constructed as a five-storey building laid out in a "H" shape. The major wings of the building faced north and south, with an interconnecting link between the two. The function was ward accommodation but now serves other purposes. The nurses quarters (1959) was the next largest building on QEII MC, a five-storey building built in the shape of a "T". The top of the "T" faces north. The nurses quarters is now used for other purposes. The State X-Ray Building (1961) is a single-storey building located at the north western border. It now serves other purposes. Communications (1971) was built in 1971 adjacent to the former nurses quarters.[5]

The School of Nursing (1968) contains FJ Clarke Lecture Theatre (1969) and Medical Library. When The School of Nursing (Q Block) was built, it was to support the hospital based nurse training program. The nurses quarters accommodated staff and trainees until the Anstey House was built were residential services were available. The nursing program changed in the 1980s and became no longer hospital based. Accommodation for nurses was not as necessary. The last cohort of trainee nurses graduated in 1988.[5]

Long Term Block (1969), Extended Care Block (1971), State Health Labs (1971), UWA Blocks (1971), Main Plant Rooms (1972), D Block – Psychiatry (1973), B Block Link Building (1975) and F Block – Radiotherapy (1975), E Block (1977).[5]

The UWA medical library (1973) is a two-storey building. Anstey House (1974) is a nine-story residential building along the east–west and a single story-building extending north. St John's Ambulance Building (1985) is a single storey utility building.[5]

Lion's Eye Institute (1998) is a three-storey building along the western perimeter of a courtyard around the entrance to SCGH.[5]

As of 2020, $40million will be used to refurbish the emergency department at SCGH and help buy the hospital a new cyclotron machine. $19 million will contribute to the design of the emergency department to minimise overcrowding, and a behavioural assessment centre containing eight beds for behaviourally affected patients to be assessed. Construction is expected to be completed in 2023. $23.3million is to be spent on a new cyclotron machine assisting in increasing radiopharmaceuticals for neurological conditions, cancer and other diseases.[6]

The Charlies Research Foundation funds and supports research at SCGH and Osborne Park Hospital. The Charlies Research Foundation provides $750,000 in funding to support research projects by bringing together researchers, patients, donors, staff, sponsors and patients. When funding is allocated, preference is given to projects and clinical trials that have the highest potential to improve the outcome for patients and the future of healthcare. The Charlies Research Foundation supports young researchers by funding research projects to gather preliminary data in order to gain more funding from peak bodies.[13] From 2015 to 2020, $7,000,000 was raised with over 125 research grants distributed. 645,000 patients have been admitted to SCGH and Osborne Park Hospital. In 2020, $750,000 has been put towards life-saving medical research; 25 major projects have been funded to save lives.[14]

In conjunction with the University of Western Australia, SCGH was the first hospital in the southern hemisphere to assign a professor in the emergency centre making it a recognised centre in emergency medicine. Comprehensive care in emergency medicine includes critical care and trauma.[9]

SCGH is home to many histopathology subspecialty groups that practice on-site, including dermatopathology, gastrointestinal, pancreatobiliary, hepatopathology and respiratory pathology. The histopathology department assists in medical research and clinical diagnosis of patients at SCGH.[16]

SCGH is Western Australia's primary neurosurgery and liver transplant hospital. Elective neurosurgery and outpatients of neurotrauma surgery are held at SCGH.[17] Liver transplants at SCGH are appointed under the Liver Transplant Unit, making it the treatment centre for the Western Australian Liver Transplant Service.

SCGH began as a teaching hospital and assists in the education of prospective medical professionals. SCGH is home to a Centre for Nursing Education offering a number of services to the nursing staff at SCGH, focusing on career development, education and support in a clinical environment.

The Centre for Nursing Education supports nursing undergraduate programs by facilitating clinical placements within SCGH. A graduate nursing program is offered to registered and enrolled nurses by Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group to facilitate a supportive transition from undergraduate study to a clinical setting. Speciality postgraduate nursing programs for staff are available that assist in advanced nursing fields and techniques.[18] Furthermore, a professional development calendar is available throughout the year to provide the opportunity to develop and refresh on skills, or learn new techniques and discover a new healthcare topic.[19]

SCGH partners with The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, the University of Notre Dame and Edith Cowan University in educating health care professionals. There are a number of support systems aimed to support doctors with their workload and their transition from medical school to a clinical environment.[20]

As a hospital recognised in emergency medicine expertise, SCGH has an intradepartmental education program run by emergency physicians who are interested in medical education. Education programs are run to educate medical staff on emergency medicine basics, including ultrasound, toxicology and simulation training.[21]

Other areas of education are embedded within each medical field. Examples include plastic and reconstructive surgery training programs for surgical trainees, interns and resident medical officers, education in med tech services, comprehensive neurosurgery training or registrars and interns, patient treatment information in medical oncology, diabetes education and patient treatment education in medical oncology.

SCGH offers a range of fellowships. A range of scholarships are offered to nursing and midwifery students studying in Western Australia by the Nursing and Midwifery Office. The scholarships are awarded based on areas of high clinical need and requirements in the current work force.[22]

In partnership with the Raine Medical Research Foundation, the Department of Health offers the Clinician Research Fellowship to encourage researchers to maintain some clinical duties while developing their research capability.[23]

Registrar Research Fellowships are available for clinical professionals aiming to pursue a career in both research and clinical work aiming to contribute to the continuous improvements in a sustainable health system.[24]

Volunteer opportunities with SCGH require a commitment of at least four hours per week. Volunteer opportunities include: buggy service, driving a buggy around QEIIMC delivering patients from the car park to hospital departments; auxiliary positions, such as operating a lolly trolley and a library trolley that goes around the wards; SolarisCare, which is open to qualified therapists; and the voluntary transport service that drives patients to and from hospital appointments.[25]

The Charlies Social Club serves as a community and way for staff, volunteers and students at SCGH to connect. Weekly health and fitness activities and events are available, along with member benefits including discounts at selected stores and services.[26]