For almost 120 years, St Stephen’s has been a part of the Fraser Coast providing compassionate care for countless residents and their families.
From its origins in Maryborough in 1905 to the hospital’s present-day location in Hervey Bay, St Stephen’s has grown into an innovative regional hospital providing access to specialist care close to home.
St Stephen’s General Manager, Peter Wood, said the hospital’s 10-year anniversary since opening the doors of its state-of-the-art hospital in Hervey Bay is a special opportunity to celebrate, reflect and look forward to an exciting vision for the future.
And there is so much to celebrate. From establishing a purpose-built
rehabilitation service in 2016 to the opening of the
Forbes Cancer Care Centre in 2019, St Stephen’s continues to grow and bring new services and technology to the region.
“St Stephen’s Hospital has a long history in the Wide Bay and is an integral part of our community, and our regional health system more broadly,” Peter said.
“When the hospital relocated in 2014, St Stephen’s lead the way as Australia’s first fully integrated digital hospital. Since then, the hospital has continually developed.
“More recently, we have commissioned the first
orthopaedic robot in the region, expanded our rehabilitation services, and have been recognised internationally for embracing technology to transform the way we deliver healthcare,” he said.
But it’s not all about innovation and technology, at the heart of what St Stephen’s does are the patients they care for.
“Our teams work hard every day to continually develop the holistic care we can provide for our patients and their loved ones,” Peter said.
“Whether that comes in the form of support from our
Veteran Liaison Officer, a conversation with one of our dedicated volunteers, or feeling welcomed and culturally safe by seeing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork and spending time in our new Yarning Circle, for example.”
With a firm focus on making great care available close to home, the future looks bright for St Stephen’s, the healthcare professionals who choose to work there, and all those who will benefit from its care.
“The Wide Bay community is growing exponentially, and we are always considering how we can grow alongside to complement existing services and provide a greater depth of healthcare for our community,” Peter said.
“We’re proud to partner with our visiting specialists, local network of General Practitioners and with the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service among others to help ensure patients can access the care they need, when they need it most.
“We know from community feedback there is a strong call for us to expand with pain management, cardiac, urology and Ear, Nose and Throat services, and to establish a private Emergency Department at St Stephen’s, among other suggestions. We listen to all feedback and are continually planning for the future and that includes considering all of these suggestions.
“We’re proud to play a part in bringing great care to the Fraser Coast and are looking forward to a very exciting future ahead for St Stephen’s.”