
The Royal Hobart Hospital is a
public hospital
A public hospital, or government hospital, is a hospital which is government owned and is predominantly funded by the government and operates predominantly off the money that is collected from taxpayers to fund healthcare initiatives. In almost al ...
in the
Hobart CBD,
Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
, Australia. The hospital also functions as a
teaching hospital
A teaching hospital or university hospital is a hospital or medical center that provides medical education and training to future and current health professionals. Teaching hospitals are almost always affiliated with one or more universities a ...
in co-operation with the
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is a public research university, primarily located in Tasmania, Australia. Founded in 1890, it is Australia's fourth oldest university. Christ College (University of Tasmania), Christ College, one of the unive ...
. 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.
The hospital is run by the
Tasmanian Government
The Tasmanian Government is the executive branch of the Australian state of Tasmania. The leader of the party or coalition with the Confidence and supply, confidence of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, House of Assembly, the lower house of the ...
as part of the
Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the US federal government created to protect the health of the US people and providing essential human services. Its motto is ...
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
Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the specialty (medicine), medical specialty that focuses on the surgical treatment or rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system ...
, 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.
History
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. 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.
Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart
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. It serves as a community rehabilitation site, as well as offering allied health and inpatient geriatric services.
Hobart Private Hospital
In November 1999 the Queen Alexandra wing was leased to become the
Hobart Private Hospital.
Noteworthy personnel
*
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
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
was the senior house surgeon at Royal Hobart Hospital 1927–1935.
*
Dr William Lodewyk Crowther (1817-1885), appointed as a medical officer at the hospital in 1860.
He was suspended in March 1869 over charges of mutilating the body of William Lanney, the last male Tasmanian Aboriginal.
He went on to be the 14th Premier of Tasmania from 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.
See also
*
List of tallest buildings in Hobart
*
Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart
References
External links
Royal Hobart Hospital web site
{{Hobart landmarks
Hospital buildings completed in 1820
Art Deco architecture in Tasmania
Postmodern architecture in Australia
Hospitals in Hobart
Hospitals established in 1804
Organisations based in Australia with royal patronage
1804 establishments in Australia
Tasmanian Heritage Register