St Vincents Private Hospital Brisbane

Only 1 in 100 Australians living with chronic pain can access multidisciplinary pain management.*

There is currently a significant lack of awareness in education, support and training for the 3.6 million Australians living with chronic pain and the healthcare professionals who treat them.

On Wednesday, 9th October, St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane is calling all general practitioners to join us for our upcoming CPD Education Dinner: MythBusters: Separating Fact from Fiction in Pain Management. Hear from Dr Michelle O’Brien Specialist Pain Medicine Physician and current President of the Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand - as well as our distinguished lineup of experts to improve the level of support for individuals living with chronic pain.

To register your interest, please contact Mara Rodriguez - GP Liaison & Engagement Coordinator by [email protected] or calling 0447 691 366.

*Source: (Chronic Pain Australia, 2024)

Our Prosthetics and Orthotics teams at St Vincent’s Public Melbourne are now using a cutting-edge laser scanning system that is transforming care for amputees.

The scanner and its computer-aided design software allows for more precision and accuracy, which means designs can be better tailored to the unique needs of patients like Raymond – who had his right leg amputated last year.

The technology uses infrared light to take thousands of measurements of a patient’s limb per second, overlapping and stitching them together based on geometric shape. The scan is then modified by our clinicians, creating a carving of the patient's limb via an automated machine or 3D printer.

He's now regaining his confidence and quality of life. “Before I got my prosthesis, I couldn’t do anything alone or independently,” he said.

“It has made such a big difference.”

Introducing our esteemed multidisciplinary (MDT) rehabilitation team at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane.

Our MDT includes rehabilitation medicine physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, counsellors, dieticians, speech pathologists, nurses and spiritual care practitioners, who work closely together to develop personalised rehabilitation plans for our patients.

Today we would like to shine a spotlight on Dr Tik Chan, a Consultant Physician in rehabilitation medicine, specialising in stroke, cardiac, geriatric and orthopaedic rehabilitation. Dr Chan began practicing at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane in 2012, after his initial study and specialist training in New South Wales. Outside the hospital, Dr Chan is a senior lecturer at The University of Queensland, a member of the Court of Examiners for final-year medical students, and an accredited supervisor for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He has published multiple research articles in his field and continues to be involved in the development of pain and rehabilitation medicine.

At St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane, we understand that rehabilitation can be a long and difficult journey. Our rehabilitation unit aims to provide a calm and safe environment for our patients to recover and restore their health.

To find out more about Dr Chan visit: https://www.svph.org.au/specialists/dr-tik-chan-rehabilitation-medicine

To find out more about our services and specialists visit: https://www.svph.org.au/hospitals/brisbane/pain-services

Last Saturday, general practitioners joined St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane for the much-anticipated 2024 Orthopaedic Symposium. Partnering with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Symposium provided GPs with the opportunity to learn from and network with specialists across the fields of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, pain, and rehabilitation.

A sincere thank you to Symposium Chair, Dr Tony Ganko, Keynote Speaker A/Prof Catherine McDougall, as well as the St Vincent’s specialist faculty, nurses and allied health professionals who contributed to the success of the symposium.



Thank you also to our partners, RACGP, and to our sponsors Stryker and Lumus Imaging, as well as the Sofitel Brisbane for hosting the event.



At St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane, we understand the importance of continuous education for our general practitioners in applying the best practice with their patients. Each GP who attended this dinner Symposium received 5.5 CPD hours, including 3 hours of educational activities and 2.5 hours of reviewing performance through the RACGP.

“I didn’t realise how much I’d love it until I got here,” says Catherine Smith, Clinical Nurse Consultant at St Vincent’s Sydney.

“I love working with a big multi-disciplinary team. We’re here for our patients and we work so well as a team together. And I can say wholeheartedly, everyone is so passionate about their work.”

St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane recently had their very own Ekka Day lunch to celebrate such a festive time of the year!

Evangeline and the Food Services Team reached out to our local suppliers and put together a delicious spread of food including a sausage sizzle, lollies, ice-cream, fresh fruit and drinks.

A big thank you to Evangeline for all your efforts in organising a lunch that marks such a special local event.

We are happy to announce a new partnership agreement with the private health insurer Bupa.

The two-year deal will help provide joint patients and customers certainty over their health and care expenses while helping to limit out-of-pocket costs for Bupa members at our hospitals.

It will cover Bupa’s customers at St Vincent’s 10 private hospitals in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland.

Calling all General Practitioners! Register your interest for St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside and Brisbane’s Oncology Symposium, taking place Saturday, 9th November at the Sofitel Brisbane!

Our highly interactive GP CPD Symposium will focus on diagnostic, referral, and treatment pathways for a diverse range of cancers, as well as survivorship and palliative care.

General Practitioners will have the opportunity to take part in panel discussions, case presentations and round table conversations with a focus on practical knowledge designed to help them apply best practice with their patients.

Click here to express your interest: https://forms.zohopublic.com.au/svha/form/SVPHNExpressionofInterestGPOncologySymposium20241/formperma/Unoq3Ny1K2TBLRYPj7--adOmqmAmBUVSSqu9r3Irwws?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3-6D8PFhlfJoWlq9U25dmqoxVw0

For more information, please contact Mara Rodriguez - GP Liaison & Engagement Coordinator by emailing [email protected] or calling 0447 691 366.

Gary's final wish was to go fishing with his family at Wynnum Jetty. Thank you Ambulance Wish Queensland for helping make his wish come true.

Wynnum Jetty was the regular fishing spot for Gary and his family and holds a special place in their hearts. The family enjoyed a peaceful morning in the sun with a cooling sea breeze. They even managed to catch a couple of 'trophy fish' which were released to catch another day.

Ambulance Wish Queensland is the signature program of Palliative Care Queensland and is proudly supported by the Queensland Government. Thank you Ambulance Wish Queensland for your continued efforts in creating beautiful memories for those within the St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane community.

Read more about Gary's wish at: https://ambulancewishqld.org.au/garys-wish-was-to-go-fishing-with-his-family-at-wynnum-jetty/

Congratulations to our recent recipients of St Vincent's Foundation Queensland’s 2024 Elizabeth Fraser Scholarship Program!

Last week, St Vincent's Foundation Queensland hosted a presentation for the 2024 Elizabeth Fraser Scholarship recipients at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane.

The St Vincent's Foundation Queensland's Elizabeth Fraser Scholarship program is dedicated to assisting recipients with career progression and further education. The scholarship was named in honour of Mrs Elizabeth Fraser, whose generosity helped provide the establishment for their work.

This year's St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane recipients are: Rachael Brownlie, Nikki Canedo, Susan Jensen, Xiaohong Liu, Karli Manton, Evangeline Marquez, Jeannie Moss, Amanda Palmer, Melodee Paris-Jourdan and Annette Stevenson.

Congratulations to our 2024 recipients! May you continue to represent our hospital's values in providing better and fairer care, always.

Calling all General Practitioners! Wednesday is your last chance to register for the St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside’s CPD Orthopaedic Symposium, taking place this Saturday.

Join our distinguished lineup of experts on Saturday, 31 August 2024 for a series of interactive sessions designed to help you apply the best practice with your patients. GPs will have the opportunity to network with specialists across the fields of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, pain, and rehabilitation.

Don't miss out. Register now to earn 5.5 CPD hours, including 3 hours of educational activities and 2.5 hours of reviewing performance through the RACGP at: https://svha.zohobackstage.com.au/SVPHN-OrthopaedicSymposium1?fbclid=IwY2xjawEx_b5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXTAQM2M6-zRdgsHfmRlAmbLdxDNxtBRfZr0X9zVPuQqVD07hh1yhSKo2A_aem_s9aq9wnmR8DEGm4eSwpD5Q

For more information, please contact Mara Rodriguez - GP Liaison & Engagement Coordinator by emailing [email protected] or calling 0447 691 366

When St Vincent’s Private Community Hospital Griffith opened its doors in 2016, it brought necessary care to the local community.

Jennelle Webb, Pre-Admission Coordinator, supports patients through their experience at the hospital, from first admission to their discharge home.

“My role is to ensure that our patients have a smooth and safe surgical journey,” she says. “And as soon as people walk in here, they feel at ease - that's what I am most proud of."

Save the date for our upcoming Father's Day stall at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane!

Our volunteers have been working tirelessly to create some beautiful handmade items that will be included as part of our upcoming Volunteer Father's Day Raffle. This raffle is taking place at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane at 8am, Tuesday 27th August.

If you'd like a chance to receive these beautiful handmade pieces, raffle tickets are on sale in our hospital's reception for $3 each, or 2 for $5 for the month of August. All proceeds from the St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane raffle will help in supporting our volunteer program.

The kindness and support of our volunteers makes such a positive impact on our St Vincent's community. Thank you to all the volunteers who have made this raffle possible.

A letter from Neville, a St Vincent’s patient.

Today is Daffodil Day, Cancer Council Australia's most iconic and important fundraising campaign that supports individuals impacted by cancer.

Almost 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.* Every dollar raised through Daffodil Day helps Cancer Council fund world-class cancer research that saves lives and brings us one step closer to a cancer-free future.

If you'd like to show your support, you can donate at: https://www.daffodilday.com.au/donate

*Source: (Cancer Council, 2024)

One week left to register for St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside’s General Practitioners CPD Orthopaedic Symposium!

Join our distinguished lineup of experts on Saturday, 31 August 2024 for a series of interactive sessions designed to help you apply the best practice with your patients. GPs will have the opportunity to network with specialists across the fields of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, pain, and rehabilitation.

Limited spaces are available. Register now to earn 5.5 CPD hours, including 3 hours of educational activities and 2.5 hours of reviewing performance through the RACGP at: https://svha.zohobackstage.com.au/SVPHN-OrthopaedicSymposium1

For more information, please contact Mara Rodriguez - GP Liaison & Engagement Coordinator by emailing [email protected] or calling 0447 691 366

St Vincent’s has reached a new funding agreement with the private health fund, nib.

In July, we announced that we intended to end our agreement with the health fund (after a notice period of 65 business days) unless a new funding agreement could be reached.

A new funding deal means nib members can continue receiving treatment at our hospitals without any changes.

We believe the new funding deal appropriately recognises the rising costs of providing private hospital care.

St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside hits a major milestone with its 3000th Mako robotics joint surgery!

Within 16 months, our hospital has leapt from the 2000th to 3000th milestone, aided by the second Stryker Mako robotics system which we acquired in January 2023. Robotic surgery is a highly beneficial resource that provides greater accuracy and generally, results in a better surgical outcome for the patient. This often includes less post-operative pain and a quicker path to rehabilitation.

77-year-old David Taylor, a recent St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside patient, has greatly benefited from his Mako robotics joint surgery. Having received a partial knee replacement from Dr Simon Perkins in June, David is again able to find enjoyment from his sporting and social pursuits of golf, bowls and cycling without the increased pain in his right knee.

“The procedure was fine – no problems. I was only in hospital for a couple of nights and I didn’t have to take painkillers after I left hospital, which was amazing,” says David.

Dr Perkins is a specialist in knee, hip, trauma and general orthopaedics and robotic knee and hip surgery with Brisbane Orthopaedic Specialist Services. He has recently completed his 100th Mako joint replacement surgery from across St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the neighboring Prince Charles Hospital.

St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside has consistently led the way in utilising this state-of-the-art robotic technology to deliver the best possible outcomes for our orthopaedic patients. We are recognised for being one of the top five hospitals in Australia for the total number of Mako cases and now have the highest total volume of Mako robotic joints performed in all of Queensland.

To read more about David's story, visit: https://www.svph.org.au/patient-news/svphn-hits-milestone-3000th-mako-joint-surgery

To learn more about our orthopaedic services, visit: https://www.svph.org.au/services/orthopaedics/our-hospitals/orthopaedics-at-st-vincents-private-hospital-north

Join us in celebrating the second anniversary of St Vincent's Foundation Queensland! In just two years, the Foundation has embarked on a remarkable journey of impact through raising funds that go towards research, essential equipment and special services for our patients and residents.

From changing lives to spreading kindness, St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland is proud of their achievements this year. Their passionate team is dedicated to achieving their goals so you can receive the best possible care when you need it the most.

Thank you St Vincent's Foundation Queensland for all that you do for our hospitals and community. Here's to many more years of compassion, generosity, and positive change!

Click here to learn more about St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland: https://www.svph.org.au/st-vincents-foundation-queensland

Every day at St Vincent’s, our physios assess, treat and manage patients’ physical problems – enabling them to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Across our many facilities, physiotherapists like Anita from St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane, work in partnership with patients and other clinicians to treat disease and disability.

Meet Lucienne, one of our wonderful student volunteers at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane.

Lucienne is a fairly new member to the St Vincent's family, having just started her volunteering role this April. During her time here, she has become a much welcomed member amongst our palliative care patients, operating the happy hour drinks trolley once a week.

"I really enjoy the interactions I get to have with people in my role. Sometimes its as simple as pouring someone their favourite drink and sometimes it can involve lengthy conversations. The people I get to meet and the conversations I have are definitely the best part," says Lucienne.

While juggling university life, professional work and volunteering can prove to be difficult sometimes, Lucienne highly recommends this role to other students. "I think having volunteers from all walks of life and all ages is beneficial for everyone involved. Diversity in the people you meet and interact with allow you to learn something new everyday."

Thank you to Lucienne, and all our student volunteers at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane who help ensure our patients and families receive better and fairer care, always.

St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane is looking for more students to join our generous team of volunteers. If you're interested, or would like to find out more, please visit https://www.svph.org.au/services/volunteers.

Calling all General Practitioners! Now's your chance to join St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside and Brisbane’s esteemed specialists at our Oncology Symposium on Saturday, 9th November at the Sofitel Brisbane.

Each year, 150,000 Australians receive a cancer diagnosis. The Cancer Council reports that the survival rate has been improving, now at 71%, compared to 49% in the 1980s. However, there is still more progress to be made.*

This highly interactive GP CPD Symposium which will focus on diagnostic, referral, and treatment pathways for a diverse range of cancers, as well as survivorship and palliative care.

General Practitioners will take part in panel discussions, case presentations and round table conversations with a focus on practical knowledge designed to help them apply best practice with their patients.

Click here to register your interest: https://forms.zohopublic.com.au/svha/form/SVPHNExpressionofInterestGPOncologySymposium20241/formperma/Unoq3Ny1K2TBLRYPj7--adOmqmAmBUVSSqu9r3Irwws?fbclid=IwY2xjawEqX4xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcklH09oN70jmIqTMAB58oASWvjHUK_aWGmgYTSpSzNsY7B28u5rUi3kMA_aem_Vp_AZ61GDNi0xrDob9CJ5g

For more information, please contact Mara Rodriguez - GP Liaison & Engagement Coordinator by emailing [email protected] or calling 0447 691 366.

*Source: (Cancer Council, 2023)

Art therapy can help people find meaning and make sense of challenging experiences. Through art, patients can manage symptoms, gain insights, and find emotional and spiritual release.

The Allied Health Teams across St Vincent’s Public Hospital Melbourne offer art therapy programs that support patients to explore their creativity.

Art therapy can be a highly effective treatment for patients in palliative care, and for those experiencing mental health issues.

Meet Amanda Bromley, our wonderful Allied Health Services Manager at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane!

Amanda has been a member of the St Vincent's family for 6 years, where she works daily to ensure our Physios, OTs, Social Workers, Psychologists, Dieticians, Diversional Therapist and Assistants are ready to support our patients in their therapy goals to achieve the best outcomes and discharge plans possible.

These Allied Health teams work across all areas of the hospital either in the gym setting for rehabilitation therapy, in education groups or on the wards working with patients and the treating teams to support patient recovery. At St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane, we understand that rehabilitation can be a long and difficult journey. Our rehabilitation unit aims to provides a calm and safe environment for our patients to recover and restore their health.

"It is heartening to see on a daily basis the efforts that my team and members of the hospital community go to in order to navigate some difficult and complex situations with our values firmly at the fore of the decisions we make. I work with a group of people who genuinely value each other and the patients we work with at all times," says Amanda.

To find out more about our rehabilitation services visit: https://www.svph.org.au/hospitals/brisbane/pain-services

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed their support during our recent 2024 St Vincent's Foundation Queensland Tax Appeal.

Each year, St Vincent's Foundation Queensland launches their Tax Appeal to provide funds for the growing needs of our hospital. This year, St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane received over $19K towards providing essential comfort for our palliative care patients.

Thanks to the generosity of our appeal supports we are able to acquire a number of specialised recliner chairs that will offer much needed comfort to our patient’s whilst in our care. We are truly overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support.

At St Vincent’s, we’re dedicated to training and up-skilling our nurses with a variety of specialties and courses. Our programs across Australia offer Registered and Enrolled Nurses hands-on experience in diverse and challenging environments, fostering excellence and best practices.

Claudia Sugg recently transitioned to become a Registered Nurse at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney.

“I’ve been supported by the most experienced nursing staff,” says Claudia. “So now I’m confident stepping into my career as a Registered Nurse.”

Meet Local Artist and Photographer Monica, who’s incredible work is displayed throughout our St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane!

Monica has been an avid photographer for over a decade capturing people, animals and nature throughout the beautiful Australian landscapes. Having lived on Australia's East Coast all her life, Monica enjoys discovering new places around the oceans and the mountains as often as possible.

Monica's work is displayed in our hospital thanks to our Arts and Health program, where each work is able to be purchased by our patients or their family. Having had her own family members spend extended periods of time in hospital, Monica loves the idea of having her work on the walls, providing a beautiful, calming window to the Australian landscape.

"I believe that art brings joy. Providing moments of joy to those who are going through difficult times during their hospital stay is something that is very close to my heart."

Thank you Monica for helping our patients feel more at home within St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane.

You can find more of Monica's work at: https://www.horizonstudios.com.au/

Attention all General Practitioners! Register here to further improve your knowledge and skills to support best patient outcomes.

Register now for St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside’s free CPD Orthopaedic Symposium on Saturday, 31 August, where you'll hear from our distinguished lineup of experts including our Orthopaedic Surgeons Dr John Albeitz, Dr David Fraser and Dr Manoj Mathew who will present on various topics throughout the evening.

You’ll also have the chance to learn from and network with specialists across the fields of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, pain, and rehabilitation. Register now to earn your 5.5 CPD hours, including 3 hours of educational activities and 2.5 hours of reviewing performance through the RACGP at: https://svha.zohobackstage.com.au/SVPHN-OrthopaedicSymposium1?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1hJQepHzBrfV9s4lgr63Z8ycwDKlR3cvscQWo9Wg05lSds1m0ttmSM230_aem_AX6HwtikOYGg7fzBT-o-AUiGIVmTOTPiD9XV4KK3qB1zb_Iuma6zeaXhOrua6GTRgmRFeVCJhhJAo05AcGV4DyCE

For more information, please contact Mara Rodriguez - GP Liaison & Engagement Coordinator by emailing [email protected] or calling 0447 691 366.

Meet Benjamin, one of our dedicated student volunteers at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane!

Benjamin is a paramedicine student who spends his Saturday evening operating the happy hour drinks trolly in out palliative care ward. On a typical day, Benjamin goes from room to room, offering a drink, chat and friendly smile. This experience is beneficial not only for our palliative care patients, but for student volunteers such as Benjamin.

"I think being a volunteer makes you a much better healthcare worker. When I go to the hospital to volunteer, I am putting aside my time for no actionable benefit like money. But it engages my empathy and gives me a different motivation for what I do," says Benjamin.

This week is National Student Volunteer Week, dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating student volunteers across Australia. This year's theme is "Generation Impact" celebrating the powerful and positive changes students bring to our communities through volunteering.* Thank you to all our student volunteers at St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane who help ensure our patients families receive better and fairer care, always.

St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane is looking for more student to join our generous team of volunteers. Currently, our hospital is in need of a Volunteer Menu Companion and a Survey Companion. Days for these roles are flexible.

If you're interested, or would like to find out more, please visit https://www.svph.org.au/services/volunteers.

*Source: (NSVW, 2024)