Ceremony marks 40th anniversary of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital [Audio]

1/9/98

Premier Richard Court today acknowledged the significant achievements of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital during its 40-year history.

At a special ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the hospital, attended by His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, Governor of Western Australia, Mr Court praised present and former staff members of the hospital for their dedication and service to the community.

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital first opened in 1958 as the Perth Chest Hospital. However, as the incidence of tuberculosis declined, the facility adopted a broader role and was used to ease overcrowding at Perth's other general hospitals.

The hospital officially became a general teaching hospital in 1961 and two years later changed its name in honour of the former Governor of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner.

Mr Court said the hospital had earned an excellent international reputation for the high standard of care given to patients and the important research work it conducted.

"In many cases the breakthroughs that have been achieved by staff members have significantly improved the quality of life for people suffering debilitating illnesses or have helped to unlock some of the secrets of modern medicine," the Premier said.

During its 40-year history Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital had many achievements of note including:

·      the hospital established itself as international leader in the field of mesothelioma treatment and research;

·      became the first hospital in the Southern Hemisphere to appoint a Professor of Emergency Medicine, in conjunction with the University of Western Australia, making it a leader in the field of emergency care;

·      was the first hospital in Australia to successfully treat a patient with rheumatoid arthritis using a treatment traditionally held for cancer - high dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. As the State's leading hospital for adult cancer, much of the research work done at SCGH is benefiting other areas of health as well as cancer; and -

·      had attracted internationally renowned Professor Barry Marshall as an honorary research fellow. Professor Marshall and pathologist Robin Warren discovered that peptic ulcers were not caused by stress but by a bacterium. Professor Marshall's continuing research into the diagnosis and treatment of the disease is being undertaken at SCGH.

Mr Court commended the hospital for its ongoing work in providing excellent health care for Western Australians.

Many people who were part of the first days at the hospital joined Premier Richard Court to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. They included the man who organised the move to the hospital, Dr Alan King (left) a former member of the Army Medical Corps and head of the tuberculosis branch; the hospital's first superintendent, Dr Bob Elphick; and after 40 years, the hospital's longest serving employee, Mr Milos Solar (right), a former nurse who now works with computers in the hosptial's information technology branch.

Media Contact: Bronwyn Hillman 9222 9475