RCH in the news

Category Archives: Leading Stories

This category hold the leading stories that are used in the Internet home page. They will not show up on the list of 3 stories.

Dame Elisabeth – a shining light in our hospital’s history

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The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) is deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch.

Dame Elisabeth was a loyal and passionate friend to the RCH and our campus partners, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) and The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics.

She was dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the children of Australia. 

Her association with the RCH began in 1933, when she was invited to join the Committee of Management by then President, Lady Ella Latham.

As President of the Committee of Management from 1954-65, she successfully advocated for the rebuilding of a new children’s hospital in Parkville, opened in 1963 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Dame Elisabeth was the first Chairman of the Board of the RCH Research Foundation from 1960-68 and Vice Chairman between 1968 and 1979. Since 1984, MCRI has been named in honour of the Murdoch family.

Dame Elisabeth’s longstanding dedication and commitment to the hospital were admired by all those touched by her contribution.

A passionate supporter of the RCH Good Friday Appeal, she was named a living treasure of the RCH Auxiliaries in 2004.

Whilst she will be greatly missed, her legacy will live on at the RCH through the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Nursing Development Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding RCH nurse, enabling them to expand their knowledge and skills in paediatric nursing.

We thank Dame Elisabeth for her outstanding dedication to the RCH and for her overall commitment to the health and wellbeing of the children of Victoria.  We offer our condolences to her family for their loss.

The new RCH turns one!

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Patients, families, staff and supporters celebrated the first anniversary of the move to the new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) today with a vibrant birthday festival.

Entertainers from far and wide treated patients and visitors to special performances and visits throughout the day, including:

  • Spiderman and Batman, who abseiled down the windows of the inpatient building, a treat from Metropolitan Window Cleaning
  • Players and mascots from AFL clubs Richmond, Melbourne, St Kilda, Rugby Union club Melbourne Rebels and netball team the Melbourne Vixens
  • Jessica Zinna from Beauty and the Geek
  • Wilbur the Waterdrop from Melbourne City Water
  • Wilbur Weekly from Melbourne Weekly 
  • Bearemy, Build-A-Bear’s cuddly mascot
  • Clown doctors from the Humour Foundation
  • Author Ann James
  • Transformer characters Optimus Prime and Bumblebee from Crazigrams, and
  • An assortment of multi-talented medical students from The University of Melbourne who amazed with their juggling, unicycling and magical feats

 

Everyone enjoyed an assortment of activites throughout the hospital, including:

  • signing the massive ‘cubby’ craft cake
  • a jam-packed program of fun coordinated by the hospital’s Education Institute and Starlight Express Room 
  • dance parties
  • meerkat naming competition by RCH community partner Zoos Victoria
  • golf with SNAG Golf
  • storytime with the State Library of Victoria

 

X-Factor’s Nathaniel Willemse led the singing of ‘Happy birthday’ alongside the RCH staff choir and an excited audience of patients, families, staff, supporters and visitors in Main Street, before heading out to join Australian singer-songwriters Deborah Conway and Paul Dempsey for a lunchtime concert in the garden.

Today’s celebration had particular significance for outgoing RCH Chairman, Tony Beddison AO, as it marked his last day at the helm. Mr Beddison announced his retirement last month after eight-and-a-half years in the role. This morning Mr Beddison cut the birthday cake, joined by Australia’s first paediatric intestinal transplant recipient, Mohamed El Shazly.

The move to the new RCH on 30 November 2011 saw 143 inpatients transition from the old hospital over eight hours. Patients moved across purpose-built passageways in beds, cots and wheelchairs, supported by up to six RCH staff each. All up, hundreds of staff were involved in making the move a great success.

The hospital was officially opened a month earlier by Her Majesty The Queen on 26 October 2011. The event made headlines around the world and showcased the wonderful state-of-the-art facility.

Since moving to the new hospital, staff at the RCH have performed:

  • Australia’s first paediatric intestinal transplant
  • 10 heart transplants
  • 11 liver transplants
  • 209,893 specialist clinic appointments
  • 14,630 surgical procedures

 

The year has also seen 33,930 inpatient stays and 76,225 Emergency presentations at the RCH.

RCH CEO Professor Christine Kilpatrick commended staff for their efforts in ensuring a smooth transition to the new facility.

“Our staff continue to maximise our new setting to enhance the excellent care we provide the children and young people of Victoria. I congratulate all staff for their ongoing commitment to their patients and to their colleagues,” she said.

The new facility continues to win numerous building and design awards, including the prestigious 2012 Dulux Colour Grand Prix Award and the 2012 Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Architecture Medal.

Research and Education on The Royal Children’s Hospital Campus

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The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Campus combines research, education and clinical services to provide world-class healthcare to children.

The Campus partners comprise the RCH, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and the RCH Foundation.

A new Campus Research and Education website features examples of activities conducted on the RCH Campus, which highlight the strength of integrating research, patient interaction and training of hospital staff and the wider community to improve the treatment and care of children in hospital and beyond.

These highlights are presented by the Campus Council, the Campus Research Committee and the Campus Education Committee to coincide with Campus Research and Education Week 2012.

You can view the website here: http://www.mcri.edu.au/campusresearchandeducation/.

 

Vacancy – Community Advisory Committee

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The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) is seeking a committed and energetic individual to fill a voluntary position on its Community Advisory Committee.

The Community Advisory Committee advises the RCH Board on the:

  • integration of consumer, carer and community views into all levels of the hospital’s service operations, planning, policy development, quality activities and major initiatives to improve outcomes for patients and the community
  • implementation of the hospital’s community participation plan and monitoring of outcomes against key result areas

Visit our Careers website for more information.

The community plays an important role in improving the quality of care we provide at the RCH. We value the contribution, feedback and ideas of consumers – and there are many other ways consumers can get involved. Find out more.

Thank you from The Royal Children’s Hospital

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RCH patients, families and staff farewell the community on Seven's live telecast of the Good Friday Appeal.

The Royal Children’s Hospital would like to thank the entire community – our supporters, patients, families, staff, volunteers and friends – for your generous support of the 2012 Good Friday Appeal.

This year’s Good Friday Appeal raised $15,820,640.78 for The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH).

As fundraising activities took place across Australia, it was also a special day for those who were at the hospital.

Media, celebrity guests and other well-known personalities came to the hospital to lend their support to the appeal and meet patients, families and staff.

Channel 7 broadcast its evening news live from the hospital on the eve of the Good Friday Appeal. On Good Friday, patients woke up with Channel 7’s Sunrise and from 9.00am until 5.00pm, Nick McCallum and Jennifer Kyte interviewed patients and their families about their time at RCH to support the fundraising efforts of the appeal.

Special guests, including the Easter Bunny, Channel 7 celebrities, Ronald McDonald and furry creatures visited patients in their bedrooms and on wards.

AFL players from North Melbourne, Richmond and Hawthorn football clubs and the netball players from the Melbourne Vixens visited the hospital to spend time with children and their families too.

Staff volunteered their time to help out on the day by touring guests through the wards and giving out gifts and giveaways generously donated for the children in hospital on the day.

In the weeks leading up to the Good Friday Appeal, the Herald Sun and Channel 7 have also been on site interviewing and filming patients and families to promote the work of our hospital and support the appeal.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved.

Read and view the stories of this year’s appeal on the News Room pages of the RCH website, the Herald Sun website and the Seven News website.

For more updates click here to view the Good Friday Appeal website.

Good Friday is here!

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RCH patient Declan Barrett. Photo courtesy of the Herald Sun.

Good Friday at The Royal Children’s Hospital

Our very first Good Friday Appeal at the new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) is shaping up to be one of the best yet with a number of special visits planned by TV celebrities, furry creatures and sports stars.

You can be part of it too. Tune into the Good Friday Appeal telecast on Channel Seven, pick up a copy of the Herald Sun and listen to 3AW and Magic throughout the day.


Channel Seven Evening News

See how the hospital is getting ready for this year’s Good Friday Appeal in Channel Seven’s Evening News broadcast live from the hospital at 6pm on Thursday 5 April.

From the hospital’s Main Street, Peter Mitchell presents the news. He will also be joined by sports presenter, Sandy Roberts and weather presenter David Brown.


Channel Seven Good Friday Appeal telecast

From 9am to 5pm, Channel Seven’s Nick McCallum and Jennifer Keyte will conduct interviews with patients, families and staff live from the hospital’s Main Street. 

Click here to see the Seven News coverage supporting the Good Friday Appeal.


Herald Sun lift out

Pick up a copy of the Herald Sun tomorrow. There will be a special Good Friday Appeal lift out featuring some of our patients.

Click here to read the Herald Sun coverage of the Good Friday Appeal.


3AW and Magic

Radio stations, 3AW and Magic will cross live to the hospital throughout the day to interview patients, families and staff.


Kids Big Day Out

For a day of family entertainment get along to the  Good Friday Appeal Kids Big Day Out at Etihad Stadium, Docklands.

The day features stars from the smash hit movie, Happy Feet Two, dancing duo Mumble and Gloria and Channel Seven celebrities.

There will also be a Teddy Bear Hospital – bring your Teddy Bear or a soft toy for a check up.

Find out more at www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/kids_big_day_out.

 

RCH Choir at 3.00pm

The RCH Choir is gearing up to once again play a special part in Good Friday celebrations at the hospital, by performing live on Channel Seven′s Good Friday Appeal telecast.


Wave goodbye at 4.55pm

Patients, families and staff will gather in Main Street for the hospital’s final wave goodbye to the TV audience.


Support the Good Friday Appeal

Visit the Good Friday Appeal website to donate or find out more.

 

RCH partners with National Year of Reading

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The Royal Children’s Hospital is delighted to partner with the National Year of Reading as we embark on a hospital-wide celebration of reading and literacy in 2012.

The Australia-wide launch of National Year of Reading kicks off on Tuesday 14 February and The Royal Children’s Hospital will celebrate with our own Literature Lovers’ Festival for children and families.

The day’s activities include roving musicians, children’s author visits, surprise guest appearances, word games, installations, performances games and activities and prize give-aways.

Children are invited to join us in Main Street for our Author Hot Seat and ask these authors some curly questions about their books and being a writer for kids.

11am  Felice Arena author of the popular Specky Magee series

1.15pm  Michael Wagner creator of the awesome Maxx Rumble series

For more information ask an RCH teacher or visit the RCH Education Institute website.

National Year of Reading activities at the RCH are presented with the generous support of the State Library of Victoria.

Our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen celebrates 60 years as Monarch

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Today, 6 February, marks a special day for the Patron of The Royal Children’s Hospital, Her Majesty The Queen.

It is the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s accession to the throne. Accession Day officially marks the proclamation of Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary to become Queen Elizabeth the Second, following news that her father King George VI had passed away earlier that morning. Her Majesty The Queen was crowned on 2 June 1953.

In the course of 60 years on the throne, The Queen has developed a very personal relationship with Australia through regular visits. She has met people from all cultures, walks of life and regions of this enormous and fascinating country.

Of The Queen’s 16 visits to Australia, two have special significance in the rich history of The Royal Children’s Hospital. On Wednesday 26 October 2011, The Queen officially opened our new hospital, re-creating history from 1963 where, on her second visit to Australia, opened the, now old, Royal Children’s Hospital.

Following a tour of the new facility, together with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, and meeting many patients, families and staff, The Queen unveiled a beautiful plaque which can now be found inside the main entrance to the hospital.

Queen Victoria was the last and to date the only British Monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. The Queen, who is aged 85 on Accession Day in 2012, will be the oldest monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. Queen Victoria was 77 when she celebrated hers in 1897.

The Queen is currently patron of over 600 charities and organisations, over 400 of which she has held since 1952.

Find out more information about The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Governor General visits The Royal Children’s Hospital

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RCH patient Tyson Brown meets the Governor General with his mum Rebecca

On Sunday 29 January The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) welcomed Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor General and His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM AE to tour the new hospital and visit patients.

The Governor General and Mr Bryce visited the Emergency Department, Main Street, Specialist Clinics and the Sugar Glider Ward before joining Developmental Medicine staff, patients and families for afternoon tea at Deganis.

On the Sugar Glider Ward the Governor General and Mr Bryce met six-year-old RCH patient Tyson Brown and his mum Rebecca. “It was amazing to meet the Governor General, she was so lovely” said Rebecca.

The afternoon with Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce and His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce was a very special occasion for patients, families and staff at the RCH.