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Women's and Children's Hospital

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Coordinates: 34°54′41″S 138°35′59″E / 34.9114°S 138.5998°E / -34.9114; 138.5998
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Women's and Children's Hospital
view of the Angas Building from King William Road
Map
Geography
Location72 King William Rd, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Coordinates34°54′41″S 138°35′59″E / 34.9114°S 138.5998°E / -34.9114; 138.5998
Organisation
Care systemPublic Medicare (AU)
TypeSpecialist
Affiliated universityUniversity of Adelaide, University of South Australia and Flinders University
Services
Emergency departmentYes, Paediatric Emergency and women's health emergency
Beds314
SpecialityObstetrics
Paediatrics
History
Opened1876 (Adelaide Children's Hospital)
1902 (Queen Victoria Hospital)
March 1989 (merger)
Links
Websitewww.wch.sa.gov.au
ListsHospitals in Australia

The Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) is a hospital dedicated to the care of women and children in Adelaide, South Australia. It was established in March 1989, when the Queen Victoria Hospital and Adelaide Children's Hospital were amalgamated, initially named Adelaide Medical Centre for Women and Children, being renamed to its present name in 1995.

In September 2022 plans were announced by the Government of South Australia to build a new facility in Park 27, on the site of the Thebarton Police Barracks.

The hospital is part of the Women's and Children's Health Network.

History

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Adelaide Children's Hospital (1876–1989)

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The Adelaide Children's Hospital (ACH) was founded in 1876 and officially opened in 1879. Initially funded by a number of wealthy patrons, subscriptions, fund-raising, and government grants, it was first intended only for poor and destitute children.[1]

Architect Alfred Wells designed the Angas Building, the hospital's oldest major building still standing, which opened in 1894. He later designed Allen Campbell Building (opened 1897). Both are now heritage-listed.[2][3][4]

The hospital became an incorporated institution in 1880.[1]

ACH ran the Queen Victoria Convalescent Home for Children at Mount Lofty from 1898 until the 1940s,[1] Mareeba Babies' Hospital in Woodville between 1951 and 1960,[5] and it purchased Estcourt House at Tennyson, relinquishing it in 1978. Occasionally children were sent from the hospital to Seaforth Convalescent Home.[1]

Queen Victoria Hospital (1902–1989)

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The Queen Victoria Hospital started out as the Queen's Home in 1902, becoming the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital in 1939. In 1966, after it had expanded beyond its original role, it was renamed the Queen Victoria Hospital. By 1982, its role was defined as "a specialist teaching hospital in obstetrics, gynaecology, and neonatology, with a specific role to provide normal and high risk obstetric and neonatal care".[6] It was located at 160 Fullarton Road, Rose Park.[1]

The 10,000-square-metre (110,000 sq ft) site, which includes a tower overlooking Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi as well as a heritage-listed building next door, was purchased by the Burnside War Memorial Hospital in late 1996 from Healthscope Ltd, for around A$2.5 million. In 1998 it was sold to private developers Harwood Investments, who had developed plans to convert it into luxury apartments and about 15 courtyard homes.[7] The apartments are known as the Queen Victoria Apartments.[8]

Amalgamation (1989)

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On 15 March 1989 the Queen Victoria Hospital and the Adelaide Children's Hospital were amalgamated, forming an institution initially named the Adelaide Medical Centre for Women and Children. In 1995 it was renamed as the Women's and Children's Hospital (abbreviated as WCH[9]).[1]

Description

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The hospital is located on King William Road in North Adelaide, on the site of the former Adelaide Children's Hospital.[9]

It is one of the major hospitals in Adelaide, and is a teaching hospital of the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, and Flinders University.[citation needed]

The children's and adolescents' wards cater for all paediatric specialities, while the women's wards cater for antenatal, gynaecology, neonatal, and postnatal disciplines.[9]

The hospital is part of the wider Women's and Children's Health Network, which as of April 2023 includes Aboriginal Health; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS; includes Helen Mayo House, for women experiencing post-natal depression[10]); Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS; includes Torrens House[11]); Metropolitan Youth Health; Encompass (which works with NDIS); Cedar Health (dealing with family violence); and Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service.[12]

The Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation is the primary charity for the hospital, and exists to raise money and invest initiatives that support the care and future health of South Australia's women, babies and children.[13]

Wards

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As of April 2023 the children's wards include:[14]

  • Adolescent Ward (Children's)
  • Blood Disorders and Cancer
  • Campbell Ward
  • Cassia Ward
  • Day of Surgery Admissions (DOSA)
  • Day Surgery Unit
  • Kate Hill Ward
  • Mallee Ward (Children's)
  • Medical Short Stay Ward
  • Newland Ward
  • PED Emergency Extended Care Unit
  • Rose Ward

As of April 2023 the women's wards include:[15]

  • Antenatal and Gynaecology Ward
  • Delivery Suite
  • Queen Victoria Operating Suite (mostly day surgery)
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  • Postnatal Unit
  • Special Care Baby Unit

Emergency

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The WCH Paediatric Emergency Department is open 24 hours, 7 day a week and is located on the ground floor, with access from Kermode Street, Sir Edwin Smith Avenue and Brougham Place.[9]

The Women's Assessment Service is also a 24/7 service, which provides care for women in labour, experiencing problems during pregnancy or post-birth, as well as those with reproductive and gynaecological problems.[9]

There is also the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service, available 7 days a week from 1.00 pm to 8.30 pm. via phone or computer. This potentially reduces the need to visit the Emergency Department.[9]

Future plans

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In September 2021 it was announced that a new hospital would be built next to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, near the River Torrens.[16]

In September 2022 plans were announced by the Government of South Australia to build the new WCH in Park 27, on the site of the Thebarton Police Barracks. The barracks comprise 10 buildings which are state heritage-listed, which would be demolished in order to allow construction ofths hospital, planned for opening around 2030–31. The site covers 20,000 m2 (220,000 sq ft).[17] The South Australian Heritage Council, the Australian Institute of Architects, and many others have voiced their concerns about the loss of the historic building.[18][19] The new WCH (or NWCH) would be 25 per cent larger than the present one.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Queen Victoria Hospital (1966 - 1989)". Find and Connect. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Architect Details: Alfred Wells". Architects of South Australia. University of South Australia. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Allan Campbell Building, Adelaide Children's Hospital - 58 King William Road North Adelaide". Heritage Places of Adelaide. Adelaide Economic Development Agency. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Angas Building, Adelaide Children's Hospital - 70 King William Road North Adelaide". Heritage Places of Adelaide. Adelaide Economic Development Agency. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Mareeba Babies' Hospital - Summary". Find & Connect. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Queen Victoria Hospital". Find & Connect. Commonwealth of Australia. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  7. ^ Evans, Simon (26 February 1998). "Hospital site for apartment project". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. ^ McGregor-Reid, Victoria (24 May 2022). "310/160 Fullarton Road - Queen Victoria Apartments, Rose Park SA 5067". Ouwens Casserly Real Estate. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Women's and Children's Hospital". SA Health. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Helen Mayo House". Women's and Children's Health Network. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Torrens House". Women's and Children's Health Network. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Home". Women's and Children's Health Network. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Home". Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  14. ^ "WCH@Home". Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Women's and Children's Health Network. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Women's and Babies' Wards". Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Women's and Children's Health Network. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  16. ^ Johnston, Stephanie (1 September 2021). "Banking on the River Torrens". InDaily.
  17. ^ Richards, Stephanie (27 September 2022). "Police barracks to be razed for $3 billion Women's and Children's Hospital". InDaily. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  18. ^ Tomevska, Sara (27 September 2022). "New SA Women's and Children's Hospital to be built at heritage-listed Thebarton site". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  19. ^ "An update on the new SA Women's and Children's Hospital". Australian Institute of Architects. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  20. ^ "NWCH Campaign". New Women's and Children’s Hospital Project. Women's and Children's Health Network. 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
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