St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba in Toowoomba, Queensland | Medical and health

St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba

Locality: Toowoomba, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4690 4000

Address: 22-36 Scott St 4350 Toowoomba, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.svpht.org.au

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25.01.2022 We’d love to share a special moment from this week with you. Fr Michael officially blessed Jasper, our beautiful resident therapy dog, to continue his paws-toral care work here at St Vincent’s. We truly consider Jasper to be an absolute blessing. Watch to see the special bond between Jasper and his human dad, Mark.... Thank you to the Copland family for sharing Jasper with us. Patients, staff and visitors all love his visits.

25.01.2022 We are so grateful for the work of all our nurses and midwives. But this week, we shine the spotlight on the wonderful perioperative teams. Here’s a little snapshot...

25.01.2022 Let's acknowledge and thank volunteers for the difference they make! Volunteers are committed advocates of making the world a better place. From local community volunteers to those on the frontline of natural disasters, volunteers are quintessential to humanity the billion volunteers globally (714,138 in Queensland) bring communities together. The world is changed by people who share the volunteer spirit. When volunteers show up and step up they become global citizens who h...ighlight our common future on this planet. International Volunteer Day (IVD), on 05 December, was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is an opportunity for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations to raise awareness of, and gain recognition for, the contribution they make to their communities. This year’s theme is "Together We Can Through Volunteering". The campaign thanks volunteers worldwide and also sheds light on the difficulties and needs of volunteers during the pandemic. We celebrate our volunteers at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, especially after the profound impact of COVID-19

25.01.2022 Last week the kindness and generosity of Robbie Witt - NGU Real Estate Toowoomba was overflowing with a special visit to St Gabriel’s, our paediatric ward. Robbie and his colleague Tom were Santa’s elves gifting some of our youngest patients with some much-appreciated presents. Molly, Mia, Emily and Tia were thrilled! It’s a tough time of year for little ones to be in hospital and these gifts made a big difference. Robbie’s latest donation of $2100 brings his total support ...to more than $35,000! We are so grateful. These funds will be put towards new paediatric beds. You have a big heart, Robbie! Thank you from all our little patients, their families and our staff.

24.01.2022 For today's #MissionMonday we are sharing some more #mentalhealth tips. Thanks to Mellow Doodles for the graphic.

24.01.2022 Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day. Sadly, stillbirth affects 6 Australian families every day, and 1 in 5 confirmed pregnancies will end in miscarriage before 20 weeks? Early Pregnancy Loss. Stillbirth. Infant Loss. These are deeply painful experiences that many families face daily, but they receive little attention. ... It may be hard to talk about, but the more open we are, the better we can serve bereaved parents. If you know someone who's experienced loss, acknowledge their pain and offer your support.

24.01.2022 Today’s #ThoughtfulThursday

24.01.2022 Catch The Chronicle today for a heartening story about Dr Bob Ayres’ path to become the first cardiologist west of Brisbane 27 years ago.

24.01.2022 Here is our latest myth buster for #antimicrobialawarenessweek Sharing antibiotics and using leftovers can increase antibiotic resistance! When bacteria encounter an antibiotic, they adapt to protect themselves.... here are actions that you can take to reduce the chance of resistance developing. Take the prescribed dose and complete the whole course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. Even if you are feeling better, taking the whole course reduces the chance that some bacteria will survive and become resistant. Don’t share antibiotics with another person. This is important because the type of antibiotic may not be targeted to the bacteria causing their particular infection. Don’t keep leftovers. The dose and amount leftover may not be enough to destroy a new infection creating more opportunity for resistant bacteria to develop and multiply. More information: www.nps.org.au

24.01.2022 This week's #ThoughtfulThursday.

24.01.2022 We are proud to play our part in supporting the next generation of Allied Health professionals! Thanks for sharing this story SQRH - Southern Queensland Rural Health. Happy #OccupationalTherapy Week!

23.01.2022 Today is #WorldKindnessDay. We hope you witness, experience, or provide kindness today.

22.01.2022 This week we celebrated the wonderful work of our dietetics and nutrition, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social work and physiotherapy teams. It was Allied Health Professionals Day yesterday - the perfect chance to pause and appreciate the amazing contribution these specialised health professionals make to patient care each and every day. A great big thank you for all the work you do to support our patients and our other staff. ... #TeamStVs #AlliedHealthProfessionalsDay See more

21.01.2022 October is national Safe Work month and we wanted to highlight the valuable contribution of our Workplace Health + Safety heroes. Safety is everyone's responsibility, but we have also identified these go-to people in the St Vincent's Toowoomba work family who can help with safety-related questions or concerns. Our WH+S reps are important links in our overall network to help ensure St Vincent's Toowoomba is a safe place for our staff, patients and visitors.

21.01.2022 We are pleased to present a once-only opportunity to see behind the scenes of our wonderful new emergency department and Queensland X-Ray radiology centre! We are hosting a public open day on Saturday 7 November from 9am until 1pm. Due to popular demand, we have added extra timeslots for guided tours of this state-of-the-art facility.... Please book in for your family/group at a time that suits - a maximum of 10 can attend each session that are run at 10-minute intervals. Free tickets: www.trybooking.com/BMCMH We'd to welcome you!

21.01.2022 Our visitor and patient access has changed slightly to now include people from specified NSW local government areas as well as all of Queensland, as per Qld Health directives. All people coming to the hospital will be screened, asked to complete the contact-tracing form (QR code is included in the graphics here if you'd like to complete before you come), have their temperature checked via a thermographic camera, and asked to use hand sanitiser before proceeding. Patients to... be admitted and patient visitors are asked to use Entrance 1 (the main entrance). Outpatients and their support person/s need to use Entrance 2 to visit specialists, Qld X-Ray or Allied Health services. Entrance 4 is closed to the public and is staff swipe card access only. Thank you for helping us to keep our hospital safe.

21.01.2022 For #mentalhealthweek we are sharing some tips... Have you paid a stranger a compliment, planned to have a cuppa in the sun, or jotted down your ideas? Take some time to look after yourself.

20.01.2022 Just in time for NAIDOC Week 2020, a number of our staff have purchased our very own St Vincent's Toowoomba NAIDOC shirts. Designed by Wade Jackson and his wife Daphne these can be worn by all staff during Reconciliation week, NAIDOC week and, for a $2 contribution, on a Friday with the proceeds going to a local charity. We honour and recognise our Torres Strait Islander Sisters and Brothers along the top of the shirt with the colours and creatures of the sea. The ...Bunya nut is at the centre of the shirt representing the central role the Bunya Festival had in our region for thousands of years. People came from as far away as Roma in the West, Moree in the South and Stradbroke Island to attend this ancient parliament of our region. The Western Rivers and communities can be seen along the bottom of the shirt with our footprints covering the land. They are beautifully modelled below by some of our wonderful Emergency staff Lauren Phillips, Greg Suey and Taylee Luchterhand. What a great example for our #MissionMonday!

20.01.2022 We are advertising for RN’s wanting to join our Medical-Surgical Graduate Program starting March 2021! Luckily requirements and conditions are much better than in 1887. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract that includes two six-month rotations into medical or surgical areas.... Applications close 30th October with interviews to be held on 9 November 2020. More info: http://bit.ly/springnursegrad #nursinggrads #SVPHT #TeamStVs

18.01.2022 For today's #FlashbackFriday we have delved into the Annals, to find this photo of the grotto that used to be in our grounds. It is referred to as the ‘Grotto of Lourdes’ and it was built by ‘Mr Osterio, Italian’, in the time when Sister Dorothea Devine was Rectress (1949-1955). We think the photo was taken in 1951. Do you remember the grotto?

18.01.2022 For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're taking the opportunity to share this story... A breast cancer diagnosis is a confronting time for patients and their family, but specialist Breast Care Nurse Bronwyn King is here to help guide and support. Bronwyn has worked as a Registered Nurse at St Vincent’s since 1993 and she has been the Breast Care Nurse for almost 10 years, providing information and emotional support throughout breast cancer treatment and beyond. ... As an experienced theatre nurse, Bronwyn has largely been involved in breast surgery, and is also up to date with specialist training and qualifications in breast care. I have seen such advances in care and treatment of breast cancer and I am passionate about ensuring women have the most contemporary information at diagnosis, after surgery and during follow-on treatment, Bronwyn said. It’s an extremely challenging and emotional journey for women and their families. Often women find themselves in a whirlwind of doctors’ appointments, treatment sessions and hospital admissions. Throughout this time, women and their family members have questions and concerns and part of my role is to answer these and explain options for their treatment and survivorship. I visit breast cancer patients in hospital, talk to them about wound care, treatment options, reconstructive surgery, external prostheses and offer emotional support. I also make contact after discharge over the following year, or more, for support and advice. Bronwyn is an integral member of our multidisciplinary team that provides care to breast cancer patients here at St Vincent’s. Other members of the team may include Surgeons, Radiation Oncologists, Medical Oncologists, Reconstructive Surgeons, Radiologists, Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, and Oncology Nurses. Bronwyn’s position is partly funded by Blush Cancer Care Inc, a dynamic local group that raises funds for private breast cancer patients across the Darling Downs and South West. As well as supporting Breast Care Nurses, Blush Cancer Care has organised several initiatives for breast cancer patients including survivors’ forums, doctors’ forums, and speaker events. Bronwyn can be contacted on (07) 4690 4183. For more information on Blush, head to their website: https://blushcancercare.com.au/.

17.01.2022 We are truly blessed to have a compassionate pastoral care team who go above and beyond to support patients, families and staff. They witness the best of times - and the worst - helping others navigate triumphs and tragedy with kindness and care. We caught up with a few of them to gain their insights to their integral roles. ... A big thank you from all of us this #PastoralCareWeek.

16.01.2022 #MissionMonday You will see two white figurines at the entry to our Emergency Department (our ED Nurse Unit Manager, Lauren is pictured here) and Entrance 1 (with our CEO, Kathryn). These are silent and powerful reminders that we live in a community that still has a lot of work to do when it comes to addressing and eliminating violence against women and children in our homes. ... We are proud to stand with other Toowoomba businesses, organisations and community members as part of the 16 days of action and awareness raising around gender-based violence in the home. Thank you to Zonta Club Toowoomba for sharing this initiative with us. The 16 Days of Activism are: from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

15.01.2022 Jaclyn is truly wonderful and we loved her compassionate care showcased as this week’s #LocalLegend on 7NEWS Toowoomba last night.

15.01.2022 Our wonderful team have the biggest hearts! The call out went out a few weeks ago to help bring Christmas to some local families who need a helping hand. That call was well and truly answered with dozens and dozens of wrapped gifts donated specifically for the mums and children who the local St Vincent’s de Paul Society let us know would be in their safe care over the festive season. So many of our team gave generously and with purpose, determined that each of these famili...es would get to celebrate Christmas with thoughtful gifts. Thank you to our staff and volunteers who gave, sorted and packed the presents and grocery items that were gratefully collected by Jayne from St Vincent de Paul who’s pictured here with our Volunteer Coordinator Mary, Mission Executive Mark, and CEO Kathryn. This generosity is a long-held tradition here at St Vincent’s Toowoomba that continues to be appreciated and admired. Arianna Huffington once said: It seemed to me that the people who were genuinely thriving in their lives were the ones who had made room for well-being, wisdom, wonder and giving. Hear, hear!

15.01.2022 Thank you to #francisofassisi for today’s #thoughtfulthursday!

15.01.2022 We appreciated a visit from ABC Southern Queensland today to see our new ED. It’s getting close to opening for patient care.

15.01.2022 Our next #mythbuster for Antimicrobial Awareness Week is: Antibiotic resistance is already impacting our health Antibiotic-resistant infections are not just seen in hospitals, agriculture and countries overseas, and they are not a problem to deal with in the future.... Antibiotic resistance is already affecting individuals in the Australian community. Infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is associated with longer stays in hospital and a higher death rate. In Australia, the prevalence of multi-resistant bacteria (also known as ‘superbugs’) is increasing, and more patients are getting staph infections that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. If you have an infection that is caused by bacteria which is resistant to antibiotics you are more likely to die from that infection. Examples of bacteria in the community that have already developed resistance to a number of antibiotics include strains of Escherichia coli (E coli) that cause many urinary tract infections. MRSA (formerly known as ‘Golden staph’), a common cause of skin infections, is another example. More information: www.nps.org.au

14.01.2022 Our brand new Emergency Department is now open for patient care 24/7! The bright, modern, purpose-built facility means our dedicated teams of emergency doctors, nurses and allied health professionals can provide the very best efficient care. Did you know we are the only private hospital on the Darling Downs with an Emergency Department?... We’re here any time when you need us!

14.01.2022 This week's #ThoughtfulThursday.

14.01.2022 "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."... #lestweforget #remembranceday

14.01.2022 Oh what a night! We celebrated a major milestone on Monday night with the official opening of our new $15 million Clive Berghofer Wing: Emergency Department and Queensland X-Ray Radiology Centre. We were delighted to welcome local philanthropist Dr Clive Berghofer AM whose $3.5 million donation made this amazing facility go from a dream to a reality. ... Bishop of Toowoomba Robert McGuckin officially blessed the facility with holy water, and the space was ceremonially smoked and a Welcome to Country performed by Adrian Bauwens, Damo Miri Andersen and local Aboriginal community members. Sister of Charity Sr Suzette Clarke played an important part in the official service, as did Anne Cross from St Vincent's Health Australia (SVHA) and Gary Humphrys from Mary Aikenhead Ministries. We also had a congratulatory video greeting from SVHA CEO Toby Hall. We paid tribute to Toowoomba Private Emergency Group and Qld X-Ray who will operate the new facility, continuing our valued long-term partnership with them. Our thanks extended to Hutchinson Builders who completed the project well ahead of schedule so we could bring this amazing facility to the Darling Downs community sooner. The public open day is on from 9am until 1pm this Saturday, and limited tickets remain. It is a free event - book at: www.trybooking.com/BMCMH The emergency department will start treating patients on 16 November, with Qld X-Ray's radiology centre expected to come on line in mid-December. We are very proud of our new facility as it makes us well placed to care for current and future generations for the next century.

14.01.2022 Our friends at The Chronicle also paid us a visit for a behind-the-scenes look at our new Clive Berghofer Wing. Our thanks go to them for covering our great news for the community.

14.01.2022 Here is our final myth buster as part of #antimicrobialawarenessweek Antibiotic resistance can have personal consequences for you, your family and the community! If you or a member of your family develop an antibiotic-resistant infection:... you will have the infection for longer you may be more likely to have complications from the infection you could remain infectious for longer and pass your infection to other people. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can persist in your body for as long as 12 months and may be passed on to family members or others in the community. More information: www.nps.org.au

14.01.2022 This week’s #ThoughtfulThursday.

13.01.2022 Updated Visitor Restrictions come into effect from 1am Tuesday 3 November. Under a Queensland Health directive, residents of New South Wales, except for Greater Sydney (see list below), will be allowed to enter our hospital. Visitors from Victoria are not allowed. The 32 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in NSW that are classified as a hotspot are: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hornsby,... Hunters Hill, Inner West, Ku-Ring-Gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, The Hills Shire, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, Woollahra and Sydney Harbour (Unincorporated). All people coming to the hospital will continue to be screened, asked to complete the contact-tracing form, have their temperature checked via a thermographic camera, and asked to use hand sanitiser before proceeding. Patients to be admitted and patient visitors are asked to use Entrance 1 (the main entrance). Outpatients and their support person/s need to use Entrance 2 to visit specialists, Qld X-Ray or Allied Health services. Entrance 4 is closed to the public and is staff swipe card access only. Other visiting arrangements are unchanged: Up to two visitors can see a patient in hospital during each of the allocated visiting times: 2pm - 4pm and 6pm 8pm Up to two people may remain with a patient and are not restricted to the visitor times if they are: Carers for children under the age of 18 Carers for a patient with a disability Partner and/or support person/s when in labour in the birth suite (partners are allowed unlimited access for the duration of the stay) Outpatient care appointments Visitors may not visit a hospital if: They are currently diagnosed with COVID-19 They have been asked to self-quarantine have had contact with a person with COVID-19 or have returned from overseas in the past 14 days They have a fever (37.5 degrees or more) or a cough, runny nose, sore throat or breathing difficulties. They are under the age of 16 (except siblings with one adult visiting the maternity ward, while maintaining two visitors per visiting time). They have been in a designated hot spot (Greater Sydney or Victoria) in the past 14 days Anyone from Qld or NSW (except Greater Sydney) is welcome if they meet the above criteria.

12.01.2022 St Vincent’s Cardiologist Dr Bob Ayres has hung up his stethoscope for the last time, retiring after 27 years in practice. However, Dr Ayres’ pathway to become a cardiologist wasn’t straightforward. He came from Toobeah, west of Goondiwindi, and attended Toowoomba Prep for primary school, then went on to Churchie where he says he distinguished himself by failing Year 12 - twice.... After working for five years, he repeated Year 12 and then went to university to become a vet and later studied medicine. Dr Ayres found Cardiology the most interesting specialty, one which allowed lots of scope for procedural work, and because of the multiple interventions possible. After stints working in Papua New Guinea and the USA, Dr Ayres and his wife Sue settled in Toowoomba in 1993 where he was the first and only cardiologist west of Brisbane. A lack of a local Cardiac Cath Lab meant both he and his patients had to travel to the Wesley and Greenslopes hospitals to do coronary angiograms for nine years. This resulted in a close and ongoing working relationship with Brisbane cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. I helped set up both Cardiac Cath labs in Toowoomba enabling patients to have a coronary angiogram performed locally, Dr Ayres said. Having the emergency centre and now the new emergency department here at St Vincent’s has also made a big difference to cardiac care available locally. Dr Ayres regards hosting the annual cardiovascular education weekend meeting since 2003 as a noteworthy achievement as it has provided cardiac education for up to 120 GPs and specialists each year. He has lost count of the number of patients but knows it’s more than 15,000. Dr Ayres reflected it was bittersweet to be leaving as some patients have been seen for almost 30 years, but he was heartened by knowing they were in the capable hands of cardiologist colleagues. Working in a regional centre like Toowoomba is very different as the patients become like friends, especially as we have a shared rural background. I will certainly miss everyone I have worked with on the cardiac ward and in the cardiac cath lab over the years. St Vincent’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Rob Gray said Dr Ayres’ contribution to specialist medicine on the Downs over many decades was beyond peer. You have been an innovator, an educator, a mentor and a doctor to your patients in the most complementary sense of the word, Dr Gray said. From being the single hand in cardiology to being the architect of a mature and responsible intervention service here at St Vincent’s, our community has had continuous but always evolving reasons to be truly thankful for your contribution. In their retirement, Dr and Mrs Ayres plan to travel once borders fully reopen. We are so grateful to Bob and Sue and wish them every happiness in their retirement. They will be missed!

12.01.2022 Do you have to "dig deep" for some enthusiasm or is it bubbling right on top? #ThoughtfulThursday

12.01.2022 When minutes matter, know you’ll be in good hands at our Emergency Chest Pain Service. It’s available 24/7 and all diagnostic and interventional services are available onsite with our specialist teams.

12.01.2022 An apt #ThoughtfulThursday for Christmas Eve!

11.01.2022 You may remember that recently we sent our best wishes to one of our staff members, Carpo, who's facing some health challenges. He's now had surgery and asked us to pass on the following message and photo: Thank you to everyone for their prayers and well wishes.... We will continue to cheer you on in your recovery, Carpo!

09.01.2022 Our special friend Santa took some time out of his busy schedule this morning to spread some festive cheer (and chocolates) with the help of his Healthy Elfie. His bell jingled through the wards to herald his arrival, much to the delight of staff, patients and visitors. The jolly man then had a couple of gigs as guest of honour to hand out pressies this afternoon.... One young man was a little put out by Santa’s appearance, declaring he shouldn’t be here yet! He also got to wish one of our Nurse Unit Managers a very happy birthday for today. Thanks so much for putting the merry into Merry Christmas!

09.01.2022 We couldn't be more excited to announce that yesterday's cake stall and raffle raised ... $4226! A HUGE thank you to all who baked, created, sold raffle tickets, bought goodies and tickets, helped set up, rallied the troops and supported in many ways, big and small. All proceeds go to the St Vincent's Cancer Care Committee who are delighted with the result both in terms of the funds raised and the wonderful support of our generous community. Carly Schefe took out first prize in the raffle with the three other prizes going to Kirstie Smolenski, Marilyn Keating and Annette Heyer. A special thanks to St Vincent's for donating the prizes!

09.01.2022 Can you help by donating blood or plasma? Every counts!

08.01.2022 Our new $15 million Emergency Department is set to open - and you get a once-only chance to check it out! We held the official opening of The Clive Berghofer Wing: Emergency Department and Queensland X-Ray Radiology Centre, including a blessing and smoking ceremony, on Monday night. And we’re offering the Darling Downs community an opportunity to view the contemporary facility before it starts service delivery.... It will be open to the public from 9am until 1pm this Saturday (7 November) and will include guided tours. Free coffee and a sausage sizzle will be available. Due to COVID-19 precautions, bookings are essential and can be made at https://www.trybooking.com/BMCMH. St Vincent’s Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kathryn McKeefry said the new facility was the latest addition in the comprehensive infrastructure program started at the hospital three years ago. We have proudly served the community for almost 100 years and purpose-built infrastructure like our new emergency department and radiology service supports us being able to provide first-class healthcare into the future, Kathryn said. Toowoomba Private Emergency Group will continue to operate the emergency department which includes three resuscitation areas, 15 treatment areas, and a medical assessment and planning unit with the ability to provide allied health and nurse practitioner-led services. It will be in service from 16 November. We are very excited the new medical imaging facilities at Queensland X-Ray will include nuclear medicine, ultrasound, X-ray, CT and MRI scanner and will be operational by December, Kathryn said. We are grateful to local philanthropist Clive Berghofer for his $3.5 million donation which made the project possible. Kathryn said the department would be easier to access because it was developed with a road frontage on the south-west corner of the hospital bordering Mackenzie and Herries streets. The facility also features a new café with indoor and outdoor dining, and a florist. Recent infrastructure additions at the hospital have included the Clive Berghofer Operating Theatre Suite which opened in January 2018, adding six new state-of-the-art operating theatres, a new kitchen, and a new main reception area, and an updated birth suite which opened earlier this year.

07.01.2022 Here's a lovely photo of some nurses having fun in our hospital's garden - maybe early 1930s? Can you imagine the upkeep on these uniforms??

07.01.2022 Here's this week's #ThoughtfulThursday!

07.01.2022 Today we share a special #ThoughtfulThursday for NAIDOC week that we are celebrating this week. It is usually held in July but COVID-19 meant a rethink to a later date! The NAIDOC 2020 theme - Always Was, Always Will Be - recognises and celebrates that First Nations People have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Our hospital has sponsored and will co-host the NAIDOC artist of the year award for our community at a special event tomorrow. You wi...ll find some of the words for welcome from our First Nations sisters and brothers (including some who work in our hospital) in the welcome panel at the entrance to the new Emergency Department. Gamba Daru is the word for welcome in the local Jarowair language. The Bunya Mountains were the site of triennial gatherings from across Southern Qld. We have included many of languages spoken across our region in this glass panel. We that all will feel a sense of welcome and belonging here.

06.01.2022 Today we acknowledge the super important work of our housekeeping cleaning crew for Thank your Cleaner Day. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, the central role professional cleaners play in our society is more evident than ever. They ensure safety and hygiene each and every day here at our hospital. Cleaning plays a major role in decreasing the risk of virus transmission. The work of professional cleaners is an essential component in the fight against pathogens such as the ...coronavirus, and this deserves our recognition and appreciation. Our staff members featured here are just a few of many on our #dreamcleanteam we thank each one of them for their wonderful efforts.

05.01.2022 Maybe it’s a hospital thing. Maybe it happens everywhere. But from day one Christmas has been big here at St Vincent’s. Santa always visits. Staff always wear Christmas scrubs. And the place is decorated in almost every corner. Our brilliant archivist Jane Smith recently dug out these gems of Christmas in days gone by. ... In 1953 Santa gave a gift to every patient. Each man received a bottle of ale. The Sister of Charity recording the event noted that beer was very hard to get that year. Turns out there was a beer shortage in the Summer of 1953. You can read the entry from the annals here. We’ve also included a photo of the hospital Christmas Cake from 1949. Standby for some photos of the wonderful Christmas decorations - we will share some in the coming days. #MissionMonday

05.01.2022 But wait, there's more! Our generous team from St Luke’s ward decided to use their Christmas decoration money to purchase gifts for our chosen charity. They made contact to find out exactly what was needed and have bought significant gifts including a brand new bike and helmet!... Jayne from St Vincent de Paul Society told us that the gifts we have given to the mums are passed onto the children so that on Christmas Day they have something to share. What a beautiful way of upholding dignity and the spirit of giving. #MissionMonday

04.01.2022 Mele Kalikimaka! Giáng Sinh Vui Ve Feliz Navidad....... This year we couldn’t travel, so the world came to St Vincent’s! Each area was able to choose a part of the globe to theme their Christmas decorations, with tropical corners, bright lights, cities of lanterns, snow slopes, and festive fiestas all showcased to the delight of patients, visitors and staff. The competition was on, and members of our Regional Advisory Committee had the honour of judging the amazing entries. The Spirit of Christmas award went to our wonder Intensive Care Unit team who penned the following on why they chose India: CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD - INDIA 2020 A year like no other! The ICU team at SVPHT is comprised of clinicians who have brought their expertise from around the globe, with a significant number of our team hailing from the amazing India. As the pandemic was declared and the reality of what may eventuate became clear, our team worked incredibly hard to prepare for all possibilities. We watched on in despair as the pandemic tore through nations not as lucky as ours, with no possible way home for the many clinicians not from Toowoomba. Borders, both state and international, snapped shut and the world stopped.and waited and prayed that their loved ones, wherever they may be around the globe, stayed safe from this terrible virus. It became clear over time that India was not going to be spared. Unfortunately many of our Indian staff members have been directly affected by Covid-19 weeks turned into months as our ICU team heard news of yet another friend or family member becoming infected back home in India, with some heartbreakingly losing the battle and others losing their livelihoods. For this reason it is important to everyone in our unit that we honour and acknowledge our Indian team members this Christmas, without whom we would not have such an exceptional Intensive Care Team at SVPHT. Thank you to Classic Recruitment & Human Resources for generally sponsoring this award. All areas look wonderful, with the creativity and intense amount of work of staff put in to ensure the festive spirit is well and truly alive very apparent. The Level 1 admin team took out first place with their Hawaiian-themed extravaganza, with St Damian’s ward the runners-up with their beautiful Hoi An, City of Lanterns (Vietnam). Congratulations to all who spread some Christmas cheer.

04.01.2022 < Endings and beginnings > Last week was the end of an era for our wonderful 2019 Spring Graduate Program nurses. We celebrated their professional and personal growth and count ourselves blessed to have had these fabulous nurses join our SVPHT family for the past 12 months. ... Congratulations to those who will stay with us permanently. Thank you, good luck and best wishes to those who will move on to other opportunities in the nursing world. Then this week we rolled out the welcome mat to our 2020 Spring Graduate Nurse intake! We are looking forward to helping you grow in your nursing practice over the next year. (The complete cohorts aren't pictured.) #TeamStVs

02.01.2022 Green snot doesn’t mean you need antibiotics Coloured mucous or phlegm isn’t always a sign of a bacterial infection, and that also goes for other symptoms including cough, sore throat, earaches and fever. While some people with these symptoms will need antibiotics, most people won’t and will get better without antibiotics.... Green or yellow-coloured snot can in fact be a sign that your immune system is fighting your infection, and not that your illness is getting worse. More information: www.nps.org.au

02.01.2022 Kat and Josh from 7NEWS Toowoomba came along yesterday to build some raPAW with our beautiful therapy dog, Jasper. He turned on the charm and worked his magic with patients, staff - and TV crews - as he went on pat-rol through our hospital.

02.01.2022 Last week we were delighted to host a cake stall to raise funds for our Cancer Care Committee as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The fabulous CCC ladies baked up a storm and ensured all the delicious goodies were individually wrapped. Thank you also to The Twisted Loaf for donating pink cupcakes - they were a sell out! It was a very popular spot and, thanks to the generosity of our staff and other customers, raised more than $850! #sweetsuccess ... Our wonderful Blush Cancer Care Inc Breast Care Nurse Bronwyn King also set up a display with important information and some of the practical items available to support women if they have a breast cancer diagnosis. This coming Thursday we look forward to hosting the Blush ladies with another cake stall where they will also be selling their beautiful Blush merchandise.

01.01.2022 Our brand new emergency department and radiology service would not be possible without the generosity of Clive Berghofer AM. And we are delighted to share that one act of generosity begets another! Gifted local portrait artist Brodie presented our hospital with a portrait of Clive Berghofer last week. Not only did Brodie create an incredible likeness of our benefactor but he also spread the kindness. He asked instead of payment that St Vincent’s Toowoomba make a donation ...to his chosen charity, St John Ambulance. Brodie is a volunteer with St John’s and has been a supporter of them for years. He has directed this gift to the St John Eye Hospital (SJEH) in Jerusalem. When in contact with us, Brodie stated: I hope these funds can go towards making a small amount of difference. Let’s hope that as well as all of the hardship that we may remember from 2020 that we can always hold onto these extraordinary acts of kindness and generosity.

01.01.2022 Another milestone reached! Queensland X-Ray opened their brand new suite yesterday in our Clive Berghofer Wing. All their contemporary medical imaging equipment, including MRI and CT scanner, is now easily accessible in bright, modern and spacious surrounds so the team can provide the very best patient care.... Welcome and congratulations!

01.01.2022 May the Spirit of Love gently fill our hearts and homes and may your Christmas be blessed with lots of love, fun, peace, joy & happiness. Thank you to all our teams who are working over the festive period to provide wonderful patient care. Our Emergency Department is open 24/7, including all public holidays, so we are here if you need us!