Rockhampton Hospital

{{Infobox hospital

| Name = Rockhampton Hospital

| Org/Group = Queensland Health

| Image = Rockhampton Hospital sign.jpg

| Caption = Signage at Rockhampton Hospital, 2019

| Logo =

| Location = 2 Canning Street, The Range

| map_type =

| Region = Rockhampton

| State = Queensland

| Country = Australia

| Coordinates = {{coord|-23.3797|150.4943|display=inline,title}}

| HealthCare = Public Medicare (Australia)

| Type = Tertiary Referral

| Speciality = Teaching

| Standards =

| Emergency = Yes

| Affiliation = Central Queensland University

| Beds = 300

| Founded = unknown

| Closed =

| Website = [http://www.health.qld.gov.au/services/central-queensland/rockhampton.asp Official Website]

| helipad = ICAO: YXRK

| h1-number = 1

| h1-surface = stainless steel

}}

Rockhampton Hospital is the largest major hospital in Central Queensland, Australia. Operated by Queensland Health as a public hospital, the hospital offers a wide range of medical services to a population of about 230,000 throughout the Rockhampton, Gladstone, the Capricorn Coast and Emerald communities.{{Cite web|title = Rockhampton Hospital|url = https://www.health.qld.gov.au/services/central-queensland/rockhampton.asp|website = www.health.qld.gov.au|access-date = 26 December 2015|language = EN|first = |last = |publisher = Queensland Health|archive-date = 23 November 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151123202239/https://www.health.qld.gov.au/services/central-queensland/rockhampton.asp|url-status = live}}

Geography

The hospital is located in The Range about 4 km from the Rockhampton CBD, on a block bounded by Canning Street, North Street and Quarry Street.

History

File:StateLibQld 2 292095 Nursing staff at Rockhampton Hospital, ca. 1908.jpg

The Rockhampton Hospital site at The Range was established in 1867, and was the second site of a hospital in the city. However, none of the buildings from the 19th century survive. The present buildings of the hospital are from the 20th and 21st century. Two of the 20th century buildings are heritage listed:{{cite QHR|16703|Rockhampton Hospital - Therapies Block and Medical Superintendents Residence|601967|access-date = 1 August 2014}}

a medical superintendent's residence constructed in 1936
the Therapies Building (a former Outpatients Department incorporating the purpose-built Kenny Clinic built in 1938 to implement the physical therapies of Sister Elizabeth Kenny for the treatment of poliomyelitis)

Other buildings of note that were once situated on the Rockhampton Hospital site include the Lady Goodwin Maternity Hospital (a maternity hospital opened in 1930 named in honour of the wife of Queensland Governor John Goodwin, demolished in 1986), the Rockhampton Hospital Nurses' Quarters (a five-storey accommodation building opened in 1954 and demolished in 2008) and the original Rockhampton Hospital Post Office (an on-site post office opened in 1949 and relocated in 2018).{{cite web|url=https://achha.org.au/detailed.php?num=38|title=Lady Goodwin Hospital|author=|date=2021|website=Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association|publisher=|access-date=3 June 2021|quote=|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416082017/https://achha.org.au/detailed.php?num=38|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://achha.org.au/detailed.php?num=211|title=Rockhampton Hospital Nurses' Quarters opened 1954|author=|date=2021|website=Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association|publisher=|access-date=3 June 2021|quote=|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416082322/https://achha.org.au/detailed.php?num=211|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://achha.org.au/detailed.php?num=486|title=Rockhampton Hospital view from Canning Street 1951|author=|date=2021|website=Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association|publisher=|access-date=3 June 2021|quote=|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603062830/https://achha.org.au/detailed.php?num=486|url-status=live}}

=Name change=

In 1998, the name of the hospital was changed from Rockhampton Base Hospital to Rockhampton Hospital.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The term "base hospital" is now considered by some hospital boards to be archaic and redundant.{{cite web|url=https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/156435/board-rpt-310713.pdf|title=Board announcement|last=Norman|first=Bob|date=31 July 2013|website=Queensland Health|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=3 June 2021|quote=|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603062827/https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/156435/board-rpt-310713.pdf|url-status=live}}

Regional hospitals were initially named and classified as "base hospitals" in an attempt to secure funding but can now be potentially confusing for tourists who associate the word with military.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}{{cite news|last1=Nancarrow|first1=Kirsty|last2=Kim|first2=Sharnie|date=14 May 2013|title=Push on for Cairns Hospital name change|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-14/push-on-for-cairns-hospital-name-change/4688268|work=ABC News|location=|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031165753/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-14/push-on-for-cairns-hospital-name-change/4688268|url-status=live}}

After the name change, all signage at Rockhampton Hospital was amended to remove the word "base".{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Hospitals in other regional Queensland cities followed suit, such as in Cairns where the hospital name was similarly changed from Cairns Base Hospital to Cairns Hospital in 2013 with the hospital board there regarding the word "base" as not correctly reflecting the number and complexity of services provided by the hospital.{{cite news|last=Stevenseon|first=Ashleigh|date=1 August 2013|title=Name change for Cairns Hospital|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/name-change-for-cairns-hospital/4857664|work=ABC News|location=|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=31 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031151522/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/name-change-for-cairns-hospital/4857664|url-status=live}}

Despite no longer being called Rockhampton Base Hospital, local media, politicians and community members continue to incorrectly refer to the hospital by its former name.{{cite news|author=|title=The 10 names Rockhampton just can't give up|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/the-10-names-we-just-cant-give-up/3397250/|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|date=26 April 2018|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603062854/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/the-10-names-we-just-cant-give-up/3397250/|url-status=live}}

Redevelopment

=Cancer Services Building=

File:Rockhampton Hospital in Canning Street.jpg

A cancer services building, incorporating new radiation oncology services, was officially opened by Cameron Dick at Rockhampton Hospital in 2015. The seven-storey building includes three floors of cancer services, an expanded intensive care unit, two general hospital wards, a plant room, staff office space and a rooftop helipad.{{cite news|author=|title=New cancer unit at Rockhampton Hospital officially opened|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/new-cancer-unit-rockhampton-hospital-officially-op/2800554|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|date=8 October 2015|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=8 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408141018/http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/new-cancer-unit-rockhampton-hospital-officially-op/2800554/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Plane|first=Melanie|date=20 June 2016|title=Rocky cancer patients no longer have to travel for treatment|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rocky-cancer-patients-no-longer-have-travel-treatm/3048545|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604040233/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rocky-cancer-patients-no-longer-have-travel-treatm/3048545/|url-status=live}}

The oncology services were established at the hospital after many years of lobbying from the community for better cancer treatment options in Central Queensland.{{cite news|last=Thurecht|first=Mikarla|date=9 August 2005|title=Diamond flares hot at gag letter|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/apn-diamond-flares-hot-at-gag/67424|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603124843/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/apn-diamond-flares-hot-at-gag/67424/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=|title=Judy leads oncology fight|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/apn-judy-leads-oncology/65028|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|date=15 August 2006|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603201625/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/apn-judy-leads-oncology/65028/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Adrian|date=8 April 2010|title=CQ cancer unit would be welcomed|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/cancer-unit-rockhampton-region/504333|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603201231/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/cancer-unit-rockhampton-region/504333/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Taylor|first=Adrian|date=2 November 2011|title=Care for cancer patients first|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/care-for-cancer-patients-first-greedy-politicians/1158575|work=The Morning Bulletin|location= |access-date=2 June 2021}}

500 cancer patients were expected to be treated in the new building within its first year, with the new oncology services creating 19 full-time jobs.{{cite news|author=|title=CQ sees 19 new ful-time jobs in radiation oncology services|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/service-growth-means-jobs/2877285|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|date=18 December 2015|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308113326/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/service-growth-means-jobs/2877285/|url-status=live}}

=Carpark=

File:Rockhampton Hospital Car Park in Canning Street.jpgAfter many years of complaints from the community about the lack of parking at Rockhampton Hospital, a new 597-space multi-storey carpark which took 18 months to build at a cost of $25 million, opened in March 2019.{{cite news|last=McCosker|first=Maddelin|date=1 March 2019|title=Rockhampton Hospital carpark set to open at last|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rockhampton-hospital-carpark-set-to-open-at-last/3660829|url-access=subscription|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909123126/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rockhampton-hospital-carpark-set-to-open-at-last/3660829/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=McCosker|first=Maddelin|date=4 March 2019|title=Rockhampton locals flock to new hospital carpark|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rockhampton-locals-flock-to-new-hospital-carpark/3663040|url-access=subscription|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910144743/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/rockhampton-locals-flock-to-new-hospital-carpark/3663040/|url-status=live}}

The original Rockhampton Hospital Post Office in Canning Street, which first opened in 1949, had to be removed to make way for the carpark.

It was relocated to the Rockhampton Heritage Village at Parkhurst and a new modern post office was built on the hospital site, at the corner of North and Quarry Street.{{cite web |url=https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Hospital-Post-Office-to-retire-at-Rockhampton%E2%80%99s-Heritage-Village |title=Hospital Post Office to retire at Rockhampton's Heritage Village |author= |date=13 December 2017 |website=Rockhampton Regional Council |publisher= |access-date=3 June 2021 |quote= |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603062829/https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/AboutCouncil/News-and-announcements/Latest-News/Hospital-Post-Office-to-retire-at-Rockhampton%E2%80%99s-Heritage-Village |url-status=live }}

=Criticism=

File:Emergency Service vehicles at Rockhampton Hospital.jpgDespite the redevelopment, Rockhampton Hospital continues to struggle with demand during busy periods, with a shortage of beds for patients in the emergency department often causing instances of "ambulance ramping" where patients are forced to wait in ambulance vehicles outside before being admitted for treatment during busy periods.{{cite news|last=Stokes|first=Aden|date=26 April 2021|title='Fix the system': Man experiences ramping at Rocky Hospital|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/fix-the-system-man-experiences-ramping-at-rocky-ho/4244884|url-access=subscription|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604040610/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/fix-the-system-man-experiences-ramping-at-rocky-ho/4244884/|url-status=live}}

According to data, ambulance ramping at the hospital increased 27% in the twelve months to February 2021.{{cite news|last=Stokes|first=Aden|date=14 April 2021|title=New data reveals alarming number of CQ patients left waiting|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/new-data-reveals-alarming-number-of-cq-patients-le/4237560/|url-access=subscription|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603062843/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/new-data-reveals-alarming-number-of-cq-patients-le/4237560/|url-status=live}}

After the witnessing the hospital in a "Code Yellow" situation during a visit, Queensland Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates called for the hospital to be expanded even further.{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Timothy|date=19 May 2021|title='There's no beds': Hospital in Code Yellow during MP visit|url=https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/theres-no-beds-hospital-in-code-yellow-during-mp-v/4260733/|url-access=subscription|work=The Morning Bulletin|location=|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603062906/https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/theres-no-beds-hospital-in-code-yellow-during-mp-v/4260733/|url-status=live}}

References

External links

[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/dls06p/alma996915554702061 Annual report / Rockhampton Hospitals Board 1960 to 1991], State Library of Queensland

Category:Hospitals in Queensland

Category:Buildings and structures in Rockhampton