St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba

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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 supported 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.

09/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr Sheila Cook from Toowoomba Endocrine & Diabetes, who competed at the Australian Masters Athletics Championships over the weekend.

This was Dr Cook’s third championship event, where she delivered an impressive performance winning bronze in the 60m, 100m and 200m sprint events. She also achieved a personal best time in the 200m, claimed bronze in the long jump, and took home silver as part of Queensland’s 4 x 100m relay team.

These results are especially meaningful for Dr Cook, coming three years after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery at St Vincent’s with Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Eddie Barui. Since then, her sprint times continue to improve and her jumps keep getting longer.

Well done, Dr Cook!

06/03/2026

Last week, St Vincent's Private Hospital, St Vincent's Foundation Queensland and St Vincent's Care (formally Lourdes Home) came together for a special Mass and blessing of the new Palliative Care Family Suite at Care Services.

This thoughtfully designed space includes a cuddle bed donated by the Belinda McGowan Foundation, along with a private family area and kitchenette. The Family Suite has been created to help families remain close to their loved ones during end-of-life care, with the cuddle bed offering an opportunity for meaningful moments of comfort and connection.

Thank you to all involved. 💙💜

02/03/2026

Three incredible nurses from our Day Surgery team celebrated an exciting milestone last week – 85 years of combined service at St Vincent’s Toowoomba.

Anne Maree began her journey with St Vincent’s in 1986 as an Enrolled Nurse. Over nearly four decades, she has cared for patients across the wards, pre-admissions, infusions and X-Ray, and now brings her wealth of experience to Day Surgery.

Kristy joined St Vincent’s 21 years ago through our medical-surgical graduate program in 2005 and has been a valued member of our team ever since.

Ally has dedicated 24 years to St Vincent’s, joining us after completing her nursing studies in Victoria and has built a meaningful career in patient care.

When asked what they value most about working at St Vincent’s, all three agreed it’s the diversity of nursing opportunities and the strength of the friendships and teamwork they share each day.

Thank you, Anne Maree, Kristy and Ally, for your compassion and service to our patients and hospital community. 💜💙

28/02/2026

We are incredibly grateful to our patient, Darryl Brooks, for a gift that speaks so powerfully to dignity, connection and care.

Darryl, who lives in Kingaroy and has been receiving care in our Palliative Care Wing, generously donated a cuddle bed through the Belinda McGowan Foundation in September 2025. That bed now sits in our Palliative Care Wing, and Darryl has been using it during his hospital stays.

A cuddle bed is a specially designed hospital bed that allows loved ones to safely lie alongside a patient. For those who require the comfort of touch, holding hands, feeling an embrace, or lying side by side can bring enormous emotional peace.

Now, in a beautiful act of kindness, Darryl is donating a second cuddle bed to our hospital. This bed will be shared between our Mary Bruton Palliative Care Wing and the Dorothea Devine Maternity Ward, supporting families at both the end and the very beginning of life.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to give back to the hospital. It means a lot to be able to give to places that mean something to me.”

Darryl shared his gratitude for the care he has received at St Vincent’s.

“The care I’ve received at St Vincent’s Toowoomba has been exceptional. Regional hospitals provide such an important service. Being able to come to Toowoomba for treatment and care instead of having to travel to Brisbane has been a relief.”

Darryl’s generosity is a powerful reminder that even while facing life’s most difficult chapter, there remains an extraordinary capacity to give, to care for others, and to leave a lasting legacy of compassion.

From all of us at St Vincent’s - and from the families who will be comforted by these cuddle beds - thank you, Darryl. 💜💙

Pictured: Darryl with Nurse Unit Manager, Angela, and Registered Nurses Alysha and Jacynta at the cuddle bed ceremony in September 2025.

27/02/2026

On Thursday evening, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba was pleased to co-host an ECG Masterclass for GPs, presented by General and Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Anudeep Gupta.

The interactive session featured case studies designed to support GPs in confidently identifying patient indicators for when an electrocardiogram (ECG) is required, accurately interpreting results, and using ECG findings to guide diagnosis and management of cardiac conditions.

The event was a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration between GPs and specialist services, ensuring patients across Toowoomba and the Darling Downs continue to receive timely, evidence-based cardiac care.

Thank you to Dr Gupta, the team at HeartCare Toowoomba, and all the GPs who joined us for an engaging and valuable evening of learning.

26/02/2026

On this day – 27 February 1999 🚑

On this day in 1999, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba officially opened its Emergency Centre and Medical Centre, marking a significant step forward in healthcare for the Darling Downs.

Following the completion of the Western Wing extension and Mary Aikenhead Wing in 1997, maternity services moved from the original 1952 building into the new facility. This allowed the former maternity spaces to be thoughtfully repurposed, transforming the old kitchen building into a new Emergency Centre and the maternity building itself into a Medical Centre with consulting rooms for specialists.

At the time, the Darling Downs had just one Emergency Department and one Intensive Care Unit, both located at Toowoomba Base Hospital. Working closely with Toowoomba Hospital staff and the Queensland Ambulance Service, St Vincent’s established the first private Emergency Centre in the region, providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week emergency care to the community.

In November 2020, Emergency moved to the new Clive Berghofer Wing at Entrance 6, where our Emergency Department continues our long-standing commitment to high-quality emergency care.

23/02/2026

On this day – 24 February 2003 🏥

On this day in 2003, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba’s original Clive Berghofer Intensive Care Unit welcomed its very first patients.

The opening of our Emergency Department in 1999 significantly increased the need for on-site intensive care services, leading to the official opening of the ICU on 14 November 2002. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the community, local businesses and Clive Berghofer OAM, the unit was equipped with around $750,000 worth of vital monitors, ventilators and resuscitation equipment.

Just a few months later, on 24 February 2003, the ICU began caring for its first patients, marking an important milestone in our hospital’s history.

The original ICU served our community for two decades before closing in 2023, with the opening of the new, state-of-the-art ICU in the Clive Berghofer Wing, continuing a proud legacy of critical care.

20/02/2026

Today, we proudly celebrated the official opening of the new St Vincent’s Oncology Centre, including a blessing by Bishop Ken Howell.

This purpose-built 12-chair facility will provide chemotherapy and day infusion services, with our first patients commencing treatment from Monday 23 February.

The centre provides access to surgical oncology, medical oncology and haematology services, working alongside our established surgeons, physicians and supportive care teams. We have a long history of supporting patients across a wide range of cancers, and this centre represents a significant expansion of that capability.

We were honoured to welcome special guests including Clive Berghofer, Trevor Watts MP, Mayor Geoff McDonald and councillors, along with representatives from Darling Downs Health, Cancer Council Queensland's Olive McMahon Lodge and Toowoomba Hospice.

A special thank you to Kane and Mel Keefe, owners of Alliance Building & Construction, and their team for the care they brought to the renovation of the Oncology Centre. Their work has helped create a welcoming, modern space designed with patient comfort at its heart.

With almost one in two Australians expected to face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and with rural and regional communities often facing challenges accessing timely diagnosis and specialist treatment, services like this are not simply valuable - they are essential.

Thank you to everyone whose vision, commitment and hard work has made today possible. And most importantly, thank you to the patients and families who place their trust in us. It is our privilege to care for you. 💜💙

18/02/2026

Registered Midwife Sarah is celebrating two years at St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba this week. 💙💜

Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Sarah completed her midwifery studies at Griffith University after the birth of her first child inspired her to pursue a career where she could truly make a difference for women. Today, she is particularly passionate about assisting women with high-risk pregnancies and is an advocate for respectful care.

When a role became available in our Dorothea Devine Maternity Unit, Sarah jumped at the opportunity to relocate to Toowoomba. As a child, she had loved visiting the beautiful parks and gardens here.

“Toowoomba is a beautiful place to raise a family. It has everything you need, fantastic schools, and I love the five-minute commute to work,” Sarah said.

Sarah values the close collaboration between staff and doctors, and the continuity of care offered to families, often supporting a woman through her birth and then caring for mum and baby on the ward the following day.

“Working in such a collaborative multidisciplinary team helps your skills grow quickly,” Sarah said.

“It really is the best job in the world. When my alarm goes off, I’m genuinely excited to come to work. I love the sense of community in our ward, and the communication and teamwork.”

We’re proud to have Sarah as part of our maternity team.

We currently have opportunities available for Registered Midwives (full-time and 6-month fixed term). If you’re looking to join a supportive team, visit our website to learn more: https://svha.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SVHA_SVHA?hiringCompany=e5449715676d0130685bd226d3499e0b

17/02/2026

Shrove Tuesday 🥞

Our wonderful Pastoral Care team were busy this morning serving fresh pancakes with maple syrup and ice cream for staff, patients and volunteers. Thank you to the team who continue this delicious tradition each year.

Also known as Pancake Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday dates back centuries and marks the day before Lent in the Christian calendar, when households traditionally used up rich ingredients like eggs, milk and butter before the Lenten fasting period began.

11/02/2026

A warm welcome to our 2026 Medical-Surgical Graduate Program nurses. We are excited to support you as you begin your nursing careers with us - welcome to St Vincent’s!

Our graduate programs in Medical–Surgical, Perioperative and Midwifery are designed to educate, support and guide newly registered nurses as they transition into professional practice. Through structured learning, mentoring and hands-on experience across a diverse and challenging range of nursing environments, our graduates build confidence, professionalism and strong clinical expertise.

Pictured: Ashtyn, Geraldine, Georgia, Amy, Julia, Zoey and Sharon.

10/02/2026

St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba is pleased to welcome Dr Natasha van Zyl, who commenced with Pinnacle Orthopaedic Specialists this week.

Dr van Zyl is an Australian-trained orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in hand, shoulder and elbow surgery.

She obtained her medical degree from the University of Queensland in 2015 and went on to complete orthopaedic training in Queensland. Dr van Zyl then undertook further subspecialty fellowship training in upper limb surgery at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Dr van Zyl treats a broad range of traumatic and degenerative conditions of the upper limb, with a focus on improving function and restoring movement. She is known for her clear communication skills and practical, collaborative approach to patient care, and prides herself on helping patients achieve their goals.

Prior to pursuing a career in medicine Dr van Zyl worked as an equine veterinary surgeon on the Darling Downs. This gave her a deep appreciation for rural life, and sparked a passion to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare in regional areas. Now returning to Toowoomba, she is committed to providing expert orthopaedic care to the wider Darling Downs community.

Welcome to St Vincent's, Dr van Zyl!

Address

22-36 Scott Street
Toowoomba, QLD
4350

Telephone

+61746904000

Website

http://www.svpht.org.au/

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Our Story

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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