Gold Coast University Hospital - GCUH

Gold Coast University Hospital - GCUH GCUH provides specialised health services that meet the needs of patients as well as the learning re

As one of Australia's fastest growing cities and most popular tourist destinations, the Gold Coast required a facility that could incorporate flexibility into the design to allow for future expansion. The Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) is a highly efficient design with capacity to change and grow to meet future health service needs of the community. Delivering a structure the scale of the Gold Coast University Hospital required a number of detailed planning and design stages. This process commenced back in 2005 and encompasses health service delivery, design and construction. The facility is comprised of seven main buildings, with a total floor space of around 170,000 square metres (excluding car parks). To help you visualise just how large this is, the total floor space of the existing Gold Coast Hospital in Southport is around 54,000 square metres in comparison - around one third of the size of GCUH. The Clinical Services and Clinical Support building connect with the two Inpatient Units, forming the main complex. There are nine levels in the main complex, topped with a helicopter landing site. At a glimpse

- Clinical services and clinical support building (nine levels)
- Two inpatient units
- Pathology and education building (four levels)
- Mental Health Unit
- Western car park (with an Eastern car park as a future initiative)
- Central Energy Plant

👩‍ “It wasn’t what patients had lost that stayed with me – it was what remained.”Nurse Unit Manager for the Geriatric Ev...
27/01/2026

👩‍ “It wasn’t what patients had lost that stayed with me – it was what remained.”

Nurse Unit Manager for the Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM) Unit, Elizabeth Soleil-Moudiky-joh, had a values-led approach in shaping the final stage of H Block at Gold Coast University Hospital.

“My interest in geriatrics began in neurorehabilitation, where I first saw the longer journey patients take after acute care,” Elizabeth said.

“What stayed with me was the importance of dignity – especially for people living with dementia.

The new 24-bed GEM Unit on the Lower Ground floor, opening in the first quarter of 2026, will complete the 70-bed H Block facility which welcomed its first patients in September 2025.

One of its key features is the independent living bedroom – a space that allows patients to practise everyday tasks as part of their recovery.

“It’s unique to our unit and offers a home-like space where patients can safely practise everyday tasks such as making a cup of tea, preparing a simple meal and following familiar routines,” Elizabeth said.

“Clinicians are close by, but the focus is on giving people the confidence to reconnect with their everyday activities.”

🌿 What does person-centred care look like to you?

We had the pleasure of looking after local legend John Coutis over the past month while he had surgery on his elbow. 💪"B...
24/01/2026

We had the pleasure of looking after local legend John Coutis over the past month while he had surgery on his elbow. 💪

"Because I don't have legs, my arms are everything," he said.

"The surgery took more than five hours because there was a lot of mess - arthritis, floating fragments - since my elbows are always under so much pressure. It was a bit like a reconstruction."

John was born with a rare form of spina bifida which caused his legs to never work and eventually get amputated.

But you won't meet anyone quite like him - still living life to the fullest and brightening all our days. ☀️

John would like to give a special shoutout to all the incredible staff who supported him during his stay.

"It's been really wonderful care," he said.

"The team has been truly sensational and I've loved them all. I want to thank them for the patience, care and empathy they've all given me over the past few weeks."

We will miss your smile, humour and laugh on the ward, John. ⭐💖

Shelby remembers every family she's supported in NICU and Special Care Nursery. 💖"You get to be there on people's hardes...
23/01/2026

Shelby remembers every family she's supported in NICU and Special Care Nursery. 💖

"You get to be there on people's hardest days and have the opportunity to make it that little bit easier," she said.

"It feels good if you have a family going through something really tough that you can just talk to them and make them smile.

"Then there's the other side when you've seen a family go through so much and they finally reach their discharge day and they're on top of the world."

She's there through all the moments and milestones, delivering A+ care with a side of humour.

"I'm definitely a yapper," she said.

"I love just coming in and talking to the families. It brightens our days as much as it brightens theirs - it's just a breath of fresh air during some really challenging days."

And you definitely brighten their days, Shelby! You are a ray of sunshine. 🌞

Alice has been in the Emergency Department (ED) for seven years, after what was meant to be just a three-month stint."I ...
23/01/2026

Alice has been in the Emergency Department (ED) for seven years, after what was meant to be just a three-month stint.

"I just didn't look back," she said.

"The department challenges you every day because of how fast paced it is, and no two days are the same. ED nurses are jack of all trades, you know so much because of the variety of things you come across."

She was the 2025 recipient of the Kylie Garnder award: an ED prize nominated by senior leaders in the department. 🏆

As the name suggests, the award was dedicated to a former nurse who would show up every day with a smile on her face and always put 100 percent effort into what they do.

"It was really humbling and meaningful to receive this," Alice said.

"It reminded me why we all show up, do the job we do and put the effort in. It's really nice to be recognised and feel appreciated."

Congrats, Alice! A very well-deserving winner. ⭐

Baby Banks just celebrated his 100-day birthday! 🎂🎈Mum was diagnosed with Oligohydramnios (a lack of amniotic fluid) and...
21/01/2026

Baby Banks just celebrated his 100-day birthday! 🎂🎈

Mum was diagnosed with Oligohydramnios (a lack of amniotic fluid) and her waters broke at 21 weeks, despite not delivering until 31 weeks.

We were worried Banks wouldn't make it during pregnancy, but as you can see he is very much with us and thriving! 🥳

He has chronic neonatal lung disease but just did his first low-flow oxygen sprint so he is smashing goals and getting closer to going home every day. 🙌

Happy 100 days Banks, you're a little miracle. 💖

For 20 years, Dr Kerfuffle has been making children's times in hospital a bit brighter. 🌞"When kids come into hospital t...
20/01/2026

For 20 years, Dr Kerfuffle has been making children's times in hospital a bit brighter. 🌞

"When kids come into hospital they are scared and nervous," he said.

"Instead of looking for what's wrong, we look for what's right. We reconnect them with playing and the goal is to make their time here easier."

Dr Kerfuffle is part of Clown Doctors Australia 🤡 who are dedicated to enhancing wellbeing through the uplifting power of humour across hospitals in Australia. In fact, he is the clown who introduced the service to Gold Coast Health!

"We have made lots of beautiful memories and performed miracles here," he said. ✨

We will miss you very much Dr K and will never forget your kindness to these vulnerable kiddies.

So, what are his retirement plans?

"Just going to do lots of dancing," he said. Love it!! 🕺

For Art Therapist, Lani, drawing allows her to transform complex psychological experiences into colourful visual narrati...
19/01/2026

For Art Therapist, Lani, drawing allows her to transform complex psychological experiences into colourful visual narratives.

A new exhibition at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) - Diary of an Art Therapist II: A playful exploration of mental health and wellbeing - showcases Lani's work, exploring conditions such as dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety and depression.

Alongside her clinical insights, Lani’s exhibition shares aspects of her own lived experience with synaesthesia, a neurological condition in which sensory pathways cross. For Lani, this means days, numbers and words are intrinsically linked to colour.

“To a lot of people, it sounds odd, but days of the week and months all have a colour attached to them. For me, it’s a very permanent, visual and sensory sensitivity that falls on the spectrum of neurodivergent (I thought everyone was like this).”

Join us in the GCUH foyer on Wednesday 21 January (tomorrow), 3pm, for an artist talk where Alana will discuss the ideas behind her creative works.

You can read more about the exhibition on our website 👉 https://bit.ly/49rMKhE

'After years of infertility and four rounds of IVF, we finally got to welcome Henry into our family.'New parents, Jess a...
18/01/2026

'After years of infertility and four rounds of IVF, we finally got to welcome Henry into our family.'

New parents, Jess and Aaron, said they'll be 'forever grateful' to Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) for the support they were given before, during and after baby Henry's birth. 🤗

While pregnant with Henry, Jess developed gestational diabetes. This affects about 5-10% of pregnancies and usually goes away after the baby is born. It happens when pregnancy hormones make it harder for the body to manage sugar, causing blood sugar levels to rise.

Due to having gestational diabetes, as well as going through IVF and some other high-risk factors, Jess had planned for an induction.

However, after 12 hours of labour, she needed an emergency C-section.

'The transition from the calm birthing room with two midwives and dull lighting with fairy lights and soft music, into the operating theatre with bright lights, about 15 medical professionals and all the beeps and sounds, could have been so overwhelming and terrifying,' Jess said.

'But at no point did anyone make it feel scary or rushed. Aaron and I felt completely safe, and it was an incredible experience.'

Jess even credits the GCUH team for helping them with those first few moments of new parenthood. 🥰

'They took their time to show Aaron how to hold his own baby as he had never held one before! They looked after not just me but both of us and we will never forget it.'

We're sure Aaron is an expert at holding bub now! Congratulations on Henry's arrival and thank you for sharing your story with us. ❤️

ℹ️ Source: Healthdirect
📷♻️ Queensland Health

A kind and compassionate approach to work has earned Dr Vikram Nedunchezhian People's Choice Intern and Resident Doctor ...
18/01/2026

A kind and compassionate approach to work has earned Dr Vikram Nedunchezhian People's Choice Intern and Resident Doctor of the Year Medical Education Unit awards over the past two years. 👏

Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Vikram has always had a strong desire to give back to the local community. 🌊

We asked him about his secret to success, and he said his approach is guided by a commitment to kindness and respect towards both his colleagues and patients.

“Treat everyone around you with respect, no matter who they are,” Vikram said.

Although knowledge and skills are fundamental to being a doctor, Vikram said it’s the soft skills that truly set a doctor apart. 💛

“I believe patients tend to connect with health professionals who approach them with a smile and are willing to give them their undivided attention,” he said.

Vikram, a Resident in our Medical Decision Unit, said it was an honour to be recognised at the 2025 MEU awards ceremony.

“Words can’t express how grateful I am - this recognition is a reflection of the incredible support of my amazing friends, family, colleagues and supervisors at Gold Coast Health.”

Congratulations Dr Nedunchezhian! 🙌

Catherine Conomos is helping guide the Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) into a new chapter. ✨The service is...
16/01/2026

Catherine Conomos is helping guide the Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) into a new chapter. ✨

The service is expanding into a purpose-built space at the Proxima building in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, and Catherine is the Project Clinical Lead.

Catherine said her work is guided by the CYMHS principles of care – respectful connection, empowerment, seamless transition and evidence-informed practice.

“I believe education and collaboration are the most powerful tools for empowerment," she said. 🤝✨

Construction for CYMHS is expected to finish in the first quarter of 2026, with the first young people and families welcomed into the new facility during the first half of the year.

This relocation is funded through the Mental Health Levy, enabling CYMHS to expand models of care, increase service capacity and improve access for children, young people and families, while also freeing space for Adult Community Mental Health teams to grow at the Southport Health Precinct. 🌱

Helping patients avoid surgery and improve their pain – that’s what drives pharmacist Debbie Laidley every day. ✨As a me...
15/01/2026

Helping patients avoid surgery and improve their pain – that’s what drives pharmacist Debbie Laidley every day. ✨

As a member of our Neurosurgical and Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening Clinic (NOPSC), Debbie is part of a multidisciplinary team that helps patients manage persistent pain.

Since 2009, this approach has improved quality of life for countless people on neuro and orthopaedic surgery waiting lists; many of the patients no longer need surgery after treatment by NOPSC.

“There is very good evidence to show that a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to manage chronic, persistent pain,” Debbie said.

“Pain management is all about the whole person – their psychological, social and biomedical presentation.”

Debbie recently celebrated the milestone of 20 years working with Gold Coast Health. Her inspiring career journey includes time working in London in the 1970s and two specialisations (oncology and analgesia).

She spent 17 years raising a family before re-sitting her pharmacy exams to return to the profession she loves.

Thank you, Debbie, for your dedication and passion for patient care! 🫶

Twice as nice 👶👶Connor and Colby were born at 26+4 weeks their birthday present was taking a helicopter from Lismore to ...
14/01/2026

Twice as nice 👶👶

Connor and Colby were born at 26+4 weeks their birthday present was taking a helicopter from Lismore to GCUH (not for the most fun reason but they said they still enjoyed it). 🚁

Mum Bridie said they're doing so well and are reaching their due date this Sunday!

"The staff have made the experience so much better, they're really fun," Bridie said.

"Their personalities are starting to show - Connor is the noisy one and Colby is the chill one," she said. 🤭

Fun fact: twins run in both mum and dad's family - that's one big Christmas gathering they'd have!

Address

1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport, QLD
4215

Telephone

+611300744284

Website

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