Greenslopes Private Hospital

Greenslopes Private Hospital is a private health care provider located in Brisbane, Australia. It was named Australia's Best Private Hospital, 1999 and then in 2004 by the Australian Private Hospitals Association, Hospital Quality of Excellence Award. The hospital provides care for a large number of patients each year since it opened in 1942 as an Army hospital - 112th Australian General Hospital (AGH) during WW2 years. Then later as Repatriation General Hospital (RGH) Greenslopes operated by the Commonwealth Government Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA) for war veterans. In the early 1990s the Commonwealth Government decided to move to be a purchaser of medical services rather than a provider. The Federal Government's preferred option was for state health departments to take over the operations but the Qld Government of the time turned down the offer. Then in 1994 tenders were called for private operators to purchase the hospital and in Sept of that year it was announced that Ramsay Health Care was the successful tenderer. Ramsay Health Care, assumed responsibility for Greenslopes Hospital on 6th January 1995. It is located within the Greenslopes suburb, on a ridge leading east from Stephens Mountain, a low hill still covered in scrub and overlooking Norman Creek to the west. The hospital, surrounded by quiet streets, lies some distance from the nearest main roads, a factor which has caused friction with local residents over traffic, parking and redevelopment issues in recent years.

Greenslopes Private Hospital is now one of the most personal and progressive health care services in the country, now incorporating 24 hour emergency care services to Brisbane residents.

History

 * 1940: Hospital site is chosen for development.
 * 1941: Construction begins on the first half of the hospital.
 * 1942: Greenslopes Hospital officially opens on 2nd February with the first 35 war patients admitted in March.
 * 1943: Greenslopes expanded with the need for more hospital beds after the Australian Warship 'Centaur' was torpedoed off Moreton Bay.
 * 1944: The official Chapel was completed and opened.
 * 1946: Greenslopes now had 900 staff who were caring for up to 1,120 patients.
 * 1950s: Greenslopes expanded once again with new medical, surgical and psychiatric services.
 * 1980s: The new multi-storey wing of the hospital was opened.
 * 1995: Ramsay Health Care took over the running of the hospital.
 * 1996: Greenslopes Hospital was renamed to Greenslopes Private Hospital (GPH).
 * 1999: A new Cardiac Surgery facility was opened.
 * 2001: Greenslopes was now pronounced the largest private hospital in Queensland and a new development of a new facility was approved.
 * 2003: The new facility which brought the number of hospital beds to 528, made Greenslopes the largest private hospital in Australia.
 * 2006: Construction begins on a new building to house new Private Outpatient Clinics - will almost double the number of outpatient clinics in the hospital.

War Tradition
The spirit of the heroic generations of men and women who have known Greenslopes as their hospital will live on. Today, everyone working at Greenslopes is aware of the special place the hospital has in personal and national histories. Ramsay Health Care has established memorials at the Hospital to host Anzac Day dawn ceremonies and other days of remembrance.

New Development
Ramsay Health Care recently completed a $37 million upgrade of Greenslopes Private Hospital which incorporated a new 90 private bed wing, four additional operating theatres and 32 onsite medical consultation suites. Officially opened by the Prime Minister of Australia in April 2003, Greenslopes Private Hospital will continue to develop its infrastructure and expand its services in order to meet the increasing demands of the community.