News
Hollywood Private Hospital celebrates 25 years
Mar 07, 2019
The purchase of Hollywood Private Hospital 25 years ago was a turning point in the life of Ramsay Health Care Founder, Paul Ramsay, and it also changed the landscape of private health care in WA.
That day in 1994 was pivotal in Ramsay Health becoming the biggest private hospital operator in the country, one of the biggest and most diverse private health care groups in the world and setting Hollywood on a course to becoming the state’s largest private hospital.
When the late Paul Ramsay bought the Repatriation General Hospital from the Commonwealth Government, he did more than acquire a 300-bed hospital.
He purchased an important piece of WA history.
Originally built during the Second World War to care for Australian service personnel, Hollywood Private Hospital was first known as the ‘110 Army General Hospital’.
In 1947 it became known as the Repatriation General Hospital, which it remained until 1994 when Ramsay Health Care acquired it.
Hollywood Private Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Peter Mott, said the hospital had grown exponentially over the 25 years.
“Since becoming part of Ramsay Health Care, we’ve doubled our bed numbers going from 300 beds to more than 700 making us the biggest private hospital in WA,” Mr Mott said.
“In the past five years alone, the hospital has doubled its theatre capacity and substantially increased patient admission year on year.
“During the same period the hospital has extended its Hollywood Clinic mental health facility by 30 beds, commissioned our Anne Leach Wing comprising an additional 90 surgical beds and opened 10 additional operating theatres.”
Mr Mott said that in 1994, the hospital had 207 accredited visiting medical specialists.
“Now we have 650 specialists and the hospital is exceptionally well regarded in a broad range of medical specialities, including urology, cardiology, psychiatry, oncology, neurosurgery and orthopaedics,” he said.
“We perform more patient’s joint replacements than any other private hospital in WA.”
Mr Mott said the hospital was also considered a leader in research and technology.
“We have around 130 research projects currently underway at Hollywood across a multitude of specialties,” Mr Mott said.
“We’ve recently commissioned four new ultra-high definition operating theatres,” he said. “This follows several other major investments we’ve made in recent years, including the Da Vinci Xi robot, the most advanced surgical system in the state, along with the installation of an intra-operative CT scanner in the operating theatre complex.”
Mr Mott said the hospital would continue to go from strength to strength with exciting plans for growth in the near future.
“The next major development already underway is the Hollywood Consulting Centre, which is comprised of a fully integrated comprehensive cancer centre, a new gastroenterology unit and 280 car bays, due for completion next year,” he said.
This week staff celebrated the hospitals 25th anniversary at a number of functions, including the annual Loyalty Awards, which recognise long serving staff and a celebratory lunch where the Executive served meals to staff.
Later this month, Hollywood will celebrate its achievements with doctors and staff at a special cocktail party being held at the Claremont Showgrounds.
“I am sure Paul Ramsay would be delighted that we continue to nurture the culture at Hollywood,” Mr Mott said.
For more information, please visit the Hollywood’s 25th anniversary website hub.