Campbelltown Hospital

Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals deliver healthcare to residents in the Macarthur region in New South Wales, providing a range of services including cardiology, maternity, gynaecology, palliative care, respiratory and stroke medicine, surgery and emergency medicine, and aged-care services.

The hospital has a well developed Department of General Surgery with 8 general surgeons divided into 3 units comprising the core subspecialties in general surgery - Breast & Endocrine surgery, Colorectal Surgery & Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery. The general surgeons are fully qualified fellows and highly respected members within the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) within their respective fields. The department manages a high volume of oncologic (cancer) cases particularly those in breast, thyroid & colorectal cancers. The general surgery department is also staffed by registrars on the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons^[1] training rotations as well as a Surgical Superintendent who supports the department in clinical and administrative matters. The medical teams also include interns, resident medical officers as well as a strong cohort of medical and nursing students from the University of Western Sydney.^[2]

Campbelltown Hospital is currently one of 23 Hospitals in New South Wales accredited as a 24/7 Acute Stroke Thrombolysis Centre, recognising its specialist services in imaging, neurology, emergency and stroke care.

Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals share a network of staff and services, working closely with healthcare providers such as Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Camden Hospital 110 year anniversary

In 2012 Camden Hospital turned 110 years old. To mark its anniversary, a number of celebrations took place including a launch event with the NSW Minister for Health and local Members of Parliament, a week-long historical exhibition with Camden Historical Society, a Hospital open day and the opening of a time capsule hidden beneath a plaque in the wall of the old Matron’s office. A 110-year anniversary website was also launched to keep the community updated on activities, historical photos and information throughout the year.

History

In 1899 the Camden community raised funds to create Camden Cottage Hospital. Known as ‘Edithville’, the Hospital was capable of taking on 12 patients, nursed by a Matron and supported by local Doctors. Three years later, a new cottage hospital was built on ‘Windmill Hill’, providing additional care for the growing community. This new 12-bed Hospital was established, supported and run by a local Hospital Committee, made up of members of the local community. Each bed cost 30 pounds per year which was raised through social events and donations.

The P.B. Hodge Block was opened in 1971, helping Camden Hospital grow to more than 156 beds by 1985. Campbelltown Hospital was opened by Premier Neville Wran in 1977 and by 1978 the hospital had 120 beds including a 10-bed Paediatric Ward. Stage two of the development was completed in 1984, increasing capacity to 279 beds. Other services including a free-standing Psychiatric Unit, Intensive/Coronary beds and expanded Maternity services were developed during this time.

By 1983 the Macarthur Health Service was established, made up of Camden Hospital, Campbelltown Hospital and the Queen Victoria Memorial Home. Australia’s first Day Surgery Unit was opened at Campbelltown Hospital in March 1984, with new Operating Theatres, CSSD, a Paediatric Ward of 24 beds and the Cooper’s Cottage Drug and Alcohol Unit opening in the years to follow.

Additional Operating Theatres and an Emergency Department were officially opened in 2006 to support the growing Macarthur Community. The University of Western Sydney Clinical School was opened in 2007, bringing together expert medical teachers and newly renovated clinical training facilities to create outstanding opportunities for clinical education.

Hospital expansion

In 2012 Campbelltown Hospital received $139 million in funds to provide expanded, quality health services to meet the growing needs of the community. The Hospital is undergoing significant enhancements, including the construction of a new multi-storey building that will house inpatient wards, ambulatory, outpatient and allied health services, pathology and clinical information. This expansion is now almost near completion and fully functional with the new Acute Services Building the cornerstone of a state-of-the-art facility. As of 2015, The Acute Services Building (aka "The New Hospital") has state-of-the-art wards and facilities including special accommodation for bariatric patients.

Existing buildings will also be reconfigured to expand the Emergency Department, Paediatric Outpatients, Birthing Suite and Maternity areas. At the completion of the Stage 1 Redevelopment, Campbelltown Hospital will include:

• Ninety inpatient beds with a capacity for a further 30;
• Eleven new emergency places;
• Four birthing rooms;
• Two cardiac catheterisation laboratory and interventional suites;
• A co-located and expanded floor comprising ambulatory care, outpatients, antenatal, allied health consulting rooms and treatment spaces;
• Relocation and expansion of supporting space for pathology and clinical information;
• An additional 1,225 car spaces, including 37 new spaces serving ambulatory care and cancer therapy services, as well as 110 car spaces in the south-west corner of the campus;
• A new 24-hour medical helipad designed to accommodate aero-medical helicopters and enable the safe and efficient arrival and retrieval of emergency patients;
• A reconfigured and expanded emergency department as well as paediatric outpatients, birthing suite and maternity areas; and
• Loading dock expansion.

References

External links

• Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals