Official opening of the redeveloped Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Eye and Ear) is excited to announce the completion of its redevelopment project.
On Tuesday 23 April 2024, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital celebrated a significant milestone in its redevelopment journey with the official opening of the redeveloped hospital.
The unveiling was officiated by The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Health and Health Infrastructure and signified the beginning of a new era of patient care at the hospital.
The redeveloped Eye and Ear boasts a 24-hour Emergency Department (ED), ED Short Stay Unit with four 24 hour beds, Perioperative Suite with eight state-of-the-art theatres, a fresh inpatient ward with 24 beds, and a dedicated floor for our clinics, offering over 90 specialist services.
Chief Executive Officer, Brendon Gardner, looks forward to seeing the positive impact the redeveloped hospital will have on metropolitan, regional and rural patients.
“As Australia’s only eye, ear, nose and throat hospital, today signifies a new chapter in our 160-year history. As Victoria’s third oldest public hospital, our specialist knowledge and expertise position us well to continue to provide the best care for Victorians over the next 160 years and beyond.”
Patient John Desmond has benefitted from the specialist care the Eye and Ear offers after sustaining a traumatic eye injury a few weeks ago, whilst chopping wood at his home in Mansfield. A large wood chip hit his left eye causing blunt trauma.
“When it happened, I sat down. My brother was there with me and I've just said my eye’s not too good. I’ve got a big white cloud in front of the eye and black specks through it,” remembered John.
After presenting at the local Emergency Department in Mansfield, John was advised to travel to the Eye and Ear to seek treatment.
“They were fairly concerned about it. She didn’t know enough about eyes, but she does know that I need to someone that did know what they're talking about,” John recounted.
“She rang around a few spots. She rang the Eye and Ear first, then a couple of local or closer ones but no good. Everybody recommended the Eye and Ear.”
The wood chip injury damaged the lens and structure of John’s eye. John’s treating surgeon, Associate Professor Penelope Allen, Head of the Eye and Ear’s Vitreoretinal Surgical Unit, had to remove the lens and the treat extensive bleeding caused by the trauma.
“Treating traumatic eye injuries like John’s require additional years of training and skills on top of general ophthalmologist training. We see several eye injuries per week through our Emergency Department and collaborative management from subspeciality units is very beneficial for their care,” Associate Professor Allen explained.
The Eye and Ear is nationally and internationally renowned for teaching, training and research since its founding in 1863.
“The Eye and Ear was built on three pillars; care, training and research,” said Associate Professor Penelope Allen.
“What is most profound to me is that we are all still upholding these principles today. The Eye and Ear is the leading trainer of ophthalmologists in Victoria through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. Doctors from all over the world come to train at the hospital in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, to learn from leaders in the industry, colleagues, renowned here and internationally. Our dedication to research and improving patient’s lives now and in the future is something I know we constantly strive for.”
From having 60 inpatients in 1865, to having over 14,000 in 2023, from our small humble beginnings Victorians will continue to benefit from our centre of excellence and hub of specialist eye, ear, nose and throat knowledge and expertise for years to come.
Redevelopment Launch Event - Hospital Building historical timeline on Vimeo
