St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba

St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba is the largest not-for-profit private hospital west of Ipswich.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba is the largest acute private hospital on the Darling Downs and has been open for 100 years. We are a 189-bed facility with highly experienced and skilled staff that work as a team to deliver the highest standard of healthcare to all our patients. Our services include medical, surgical, maternity, paediatric, emergency, cardiac and rehabilitation. We are supp

orted by comprehensive allied health services and advanced medical and diagnostic services. Pathology, radiology and pharmacy are also available on site, and our emergency department is open 24 hours, seven days a week. Our corporate values of compassion, justice, integrity and excellence are at the heart of all that we do. From the beginning to the end of life, and all stages in between, we are a trusted healthcare provider that continues to make an indispensable contribution to the communities of the Darling Downs and South West districts of Queensland.

This week St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba welcomed orthopaedic surgeon Dr Luke Miller to its medical centre and its oper...
06/08/2025

This week St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba welcomed orthopaedic surgeon Dr Luke Miller to its medical centre and its operating theatres.

Dr Miller has opened Pinnacle Orthopaedic Specialists practice at Suite 4, Level 2, Entrance 2. Fellow orthopaedic surgeon Dr Natasha van Zyl will join Dr Miller in February 2026.

Dr Miller, who has a special interest in lower limb surgery including robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement, completed the first of many surgical procedures in our operating theatres today.

For further information or to make an appointment see, https://www.svph.org.au/specialists/dr-luke-miller-orthopaedic-surgeon

St Vincent’s wishes Dr Miller every success as he adds another valuable patient service to our hospital.

St Vincent’s private hospitals Queensland CEO Oli Steele marked the occasion by delivering Dr Miller and practice manager Carissa Lewis a small hamper.

Baby Oliver Smith turns 100 days old today!Born at just 28 weeks and weighing a tiny 702 grams, Oliver’s early arrival w...
01/08/2025

Baby Oliver Smith turns 100 days old today!

Born at just 28 weeks and weighing a tiny 702 grams, Oliver’s early arrival was a huge surprise. His mum, Sophie, was rushed to Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane where Oliver was delivered by emergency caesarean. While he received care in their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sophie stayed nearby at Ronald McDonald House never far from his side for 13 weeks.

Last week, Oliver was transferred home to Toowoomba to be cared for in our Special Care Nursery at St Vincent’s. He now weighs 2.72 kg!

Sophie's obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr David Chettle, ordered an urgent scan which confirmed Oliver was not growing and had poor placental function.

"It was literally a lifesaving few hours from diagnosis to transfer to delivery. Oliver is a true miracle baby," Dr Chettle said.

Sophie is a nurse in our Orthopaedic ward, St Anne's, and has previously worked in the Emergency Department.

“Ollie was so small when he was born that even size 7x0 clothes were too big,” Sophie said.

In our Special Care Nursery, Oliver is receiving support including oxygen via nasal prongs, endocrine and blood count monitoring, and external allied health and ophthalmology input to support his development. Sophie is also receiving feeding support from our incredible nursing and midwifery team.

Oliver's paediatrician, Dr Andree Wade, is proud of his recovery and growth which now continues in his hometown.

"Oliver has fought his way through arriving 12 weeks early, spending time with a breathing tube on a ventilator, 13 weeks on oxygen and pressure support for his lungs, hundreds of blood tests, and a tube in his nose to deliver milk," Dr Wade said.

"I can't even put into words how much it means to be back in Toowoomba with my family and friends. St Vincent's has such a community feel. I can't fault the support I've received from staff and our doctors, Dr Wade and Dr Chettle," Sophie said.

The Level 4 Special Care Nursery at St Vincent's Toowoomba is equipped to care for babies born from 32 weeks, providing specialist support for high-needs and chronically unwell infants. We’re so proud to be part of Oliver and Sophie's journey, and can’t wait to see what this little fighter does next 💙💜

With increasing obesity rates in Australia, bariatric surgery is providing a viable alternative to lifelong obesity-rela...
01/08/2025

With increasing obesity rates in Australia, bariatric surgery is providing a viable alternative to lifelong obesity-related illnesses.

St Vincent’s Toowoomba offers an expert and experienced bariatric surgery program for insured and uninsured patients.

Surgeons Drs Evan Willingham and Xavier Moar see more than 230 patients a year for bariatric surgery. Patients can undergo a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve procedure.

Dr Moar advises that bariatric (weight-loss) surgery and new medications such as GLP-1 receptor antagonists are becoming increasingly helpful to Australians grappling with obesity.

“On average, people who've undergone bariatric surgery can expect to lose approximately 30% of their body weight, compared to 10-15% for those taking the medications.

“Beyond weight reduction, bariatric surgery has been shown to durably improve or resolve obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

Dr Willingham reiterates that bariatric surgery provides a proven and durable pathway to sustainable long term weight loss.

“Weight loss surgery gives you a tool that is always working to help you improve your health and wellbeing,” he said.

“We are quite comfortable combining GLP-1RA injectable medications with surgery if we think it will give our patients even better results.”

Dr Willingham says a multi-disciplinary weight loss clinic can help advise whether surgery or medication is right for a patient.

“Or even if a combination of both might be appropriate.”

For uninsured patients considering funding their bariatric surgery, please refer to our website svpht.org.au

https://youtu.be/LLiMtKZ72HU?si=4_m9jS3zvTk0Syky

For the fifth consecutive year, St Vincent’s private hospitals have been ranked number one in Australia by Medibank cust...
23/07/2025

For the fifth consecutive year, St Vincent’s private hospitals have been ranked number one in Australia by Medibank customers in the annual Patient Reported Experience Measures Survey (PREMS). Across every one of the 10 categories - from nurse and doctor communication to pain management, cleanliness, and patient recommendation - our hospitals were voted #1.

We also received the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS), a global benchmark of patient satisfaction in healthcare.

These results reflect the dedication of our people - clinicians, nurses, allied health teams, support staff, and administrators - across all 10 of our private hospitals in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Facilities including St Vincent’s Toowoomba, Northside, East Melbourne and Fitzroy consistently outperformed peer hospitals, with Northside and the Mater Sydney scoring 10 points higher than their counterparts in medicine-related communication.

To be ranked first once is an achievement. To do so five years running is extraordinary - and it speaks to the values that have guided St Vincent’s for more than 165 years. In an evolving and often challenging healthcare environment, we remain deeply committed to compassionate care, clinical excellence, and purposeful service. We’re proud to lead the way in Australian private healthcare - and even prouder to be trusted by those we serve.

Today is Mary Aikenhead Day – the Founder of the Sisters of Charity in Ireland in 1815. Today we pause to give thanks fo...
22/07/2025

Today is Mary Aikenhead Day – the Founder of the Sisters of Charity in Ireland in 1815. Today we pause to give thanks for her inspiring life: serving those in need and enabling hope.

We held a soup lunch for staff, with our wonderful kitchen team preparing delicious pumpkin and tomato soups. Just what you need on a cloudy Toowoomba day.

The Sisters of Charity were known in Ireland as the Walking Nuns. In times of terrible hardship with famine, illness, poverty and homelessness, the Sisters started by walking the streets of Cork and Dublin to reach the poor and vulnerable, providing food, clothing, education, healthcare and spiritual support.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba was pleased to support the 8th Blush Women’s Wellness after Cancer Forum held on...
21/07/2025

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba was pleased to support the 8th Blush Women’s Wellness after Cancer Forum held on Saturday.

Hospital representatives spoke with some of the 170 women attending the event and listened to a packed program of speakers addressing various treatments for breast cancer, ways to alleviate some of the side effects of treatment, and how to aid recovery.

Photos below:
Dr Eric Donaldson addressing the forum.

Wendy Worthington, Liz Woolf and Barb Grey.

Dr Christine Baker, Jane Tait and Wendy Treloar.

Physiotherapist Meg Roberts demonstrates the SOZO machine to Deb Cuthill.

Nurses Karrie Judd, Monique Rolfe and Donna Thomas.

Business Development Manager Jenny Foxton with Meg Roberts at the St Vincent's Hospital stand.

Thank you to hospital volunteers, Jocelyn and Bett, who has been busy making bunny rugs for our Maternity Unit. Jocelyn ...
17/07/2025

Thank you to hospital volunteers, Jocelyn and Bett, who has been busy making bunny rugs for our Maternity Unit.

Jocelyn and Bett have each made close to 100 bunny rugs in the last few months. With around 800 births in our hospital each year, they are definitely appreciated 💜💙

This week is NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee). NAIDOC Week this year marks a powe...
10/07/2025

This week is NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee). NAIDOC Week this year marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.

At St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba, we acknowledge the Jarowair, Giabal and Western Wakka Wakka Peoples, whose land we walk upon with care and respect. We are grateful to the Elders for sharing their knowledge, their rich traditions, their tenacity and strength. Impelled by their example may we walk together in harmony and peace.

“Compassion - it comes from my upbringing. In my culture, we’re matriarchal. You’re taught by your grandmother and the w...
08/07/2025

“Compassion - it comes from my upbringing. In my culture, we’re matriarchal. You’re taught by your grandmother and the women in your family. My nan was a strong, strong woman. That strength has been passed down. You don’t walk past someone - especially someone elderly or scared - and not be moved. You stop and help.”

Wendy is one of the first faces you’ll see at St Vincent’s Clinic in Sydney, where she works as a receptionist. She’s a proud Kamilaroi woman from Moree in Northern NSW, and she brings warmth, strength, and deep cultural wisdom to her role every single day - ensuring patients feel safe, seen, and cared for from the moment they walk through our doors.

“NAIDOC Week, for me, is a celebration of our culture, our resilience, and our survival. We’ve been knocked down again and again - but we’re still here. We’re the oldest race in the world. That is something worth celebrating,” Wendy says. “For a long time, language and history were beaten out of our people. Now, young ones are reconnecting - they’re asking questions, finding community, learning who they are.”

Wendy has seen the power of cultural identity in the hospital setting, where staff and patients alike have discovered their Aboriginal heritage - sometimes for the first time. “When that happens, it’s emotional - there are tears, anger, joy. But it’s healing. We still need more cultural care. Elders are afraid to go into hospitals - they fear they won’t come out. That’s why we need more visible Aboriginal staff. Not just people who want to help, but people they identify with. That’s how we build trust.”

Congratulations to our recent graduates of the 2024-2025 Gold Coast QLD TAFE & SVPHT Diploma of Nursing Collaboration Pr...
07/07/2025

Congratulations to our recent graduates of the 2024-2025 Gold Coast QLD TAFE & SVPHT Diploma of Nursing Collaboration Program.

Mackie Smoothy, Angela Roche, Zeke McColl and Jasmine Karrasch completed the 18-month program with flying colours.

We are proud to have been part of their journey into the nursing profession. 💜💙

06/07/2025

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But the good thing is—we’re in the race. We’re giving it a go to make things better. And that’s amazing.”

Josh is a Clinical Nurse Educator in the perioperative department at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba. He’s also a proud Aboriginal man who plays a key role in championing cultural awareness and education across the hospital.

“To me, NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements. But it’s also an opportunity for all Australians to come together and learn about the cultures of Australia’s First Peoples. That’s pretty special.”

Josh’s days are spent supporting and educating nurses - from new graduates to senior clinicians. But for him, cultural education is just as important. “Part of my role includes raising awareness around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural events throughout the year,” he says. “It’s something I really missed when I worked away from St Vincent’s for a few years - the opportunity to connect with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. Coming back, and being part of things like the Brisbane connection event, where we shared culture and history with kids and managers - it meant a lot.”

Growing up, Josh’s family acknowledged their Aboriginal heritage, but it wasn’t until recent generations that deeper cultural connection started to take root. “Being able to immerse myself in my culture - through my work at St Vincent’s, through community - it means everything. It’s pushed my passion even further.

Robbie Witt - NGU Real Estate Toowoomba stopped by the hospital today to present another donation to our Paediatric Ward...
04/07/2025

Robbie Witt - NGU Real Estate Toowoomba stopped by the hospital today to present another donation to our Paediatric Ward, St Gabriel's.

For nearly a decade, Robbie has generously donated $200 from each of his property sales, contributing almost $70,000 to support the care of our young patients.

This latest donation will go towards the purchase of breast pumps. Thank you, Robbie!

Address

22-36 Scott Street
Toowoomba, QLD
4350

Telephone

+61746904000

Website

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St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba was established in 1922 by the Sisters of Charity. In 1988, the hospital opened a new five-story wing, the Alphonsus O’Doherty Wing, which provided four operating theatres, a day surgery unit, a new children’s ward, along with suites for radiology and physiotherapy. The introduction of these new surgical services to the St Vincent’s complex made it one of provincial Australia’s most technologically up-to-date private hospitals. Since then, St Vincent’s Hospital has grown to providing a wide range of surgical services including anaesthetics, general, ear, nose and throat, reconstructive plastic, obstetric, vascular, urological and orthopaedic. Our 11 operating theatres cater for about 15000 patients a year.

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