A special birthday for our Emergency Department’s last patient

In what was history in the making for Prince of Wales Hospital, the Emergency Department (ED) in the Dickinson building closed its doors for the first time in 25 years, and successfully reopened in the new Acute Services Building (ASB).

After months of planning, the big move took place on the morning of Wednesday 3 May and was an enormous team effort, with staff caring for patients in both EDs simultaneously until the last patient was discharged from the old ED.

Centenarian, Gaye Coetsee was the final patient cared for in the old ED and coincidentally, was celebrating her 103rd birthday. Following a CT scan and treatment for some minor injuries sustained during a fall, the staff sang Gaye happy birthday and shared some chocolate cake as they packed up the department for good.

“On such a historical day, Prince of Wales Hospital’s ED team closed the Emergency Department in the Dickinson Building and opened the new department in the ASB. It was amazing to see SESLHD’s CORE values in action and the sharing of personal strengths and wisdom on the day by many,” said Nurse Manager, Brett Clarke.

“Staff across Prince of Wales Hospital did a fantastic job to support this historical move, while continuing to provide a high quality of family-centred care to our most vulnerable community, to which the ED team is most grateful.”

The new and expanded ED features state-of-the-art infrastructure, new technology and an abundance of natural light. The new drop-off zone for ED can be found off Magill Street, via Botany Street.

Gaye Coetsee