Early Operating Theatres

In the early days of the hospital the operations were performed in the wards. A screen was placed around the patient during the procedure. In 1899 the hospital dealt with 207 surgical cases. A designated operating theatre was opened in the northeast corner of the medical ward in 1900. A new surgical wing with a dedicated operating theatre was opened in 1913. It was described as the most up to date in Queensland. The theatre was half hexagonal in shape which enabled the room to be beautifully lit on three sides. It also had a sterilizing room, surgeons room and nurses store room. The equipment was procured from London and Sydney and was particularly described as “very elaborate” .

At the time of opening Dr Phillip Thornton was the medical superintendent and Miss Pampling was the matron. The building was opened by the then Governor of Queensland, Sir William MacGregor. The Truth newspaper included this comment after the opening by the Governor,

“ Pity they didn’t try the effect of one of his speeches on some patient as an anaesthetic”.

Inscription reads “Presented to Mrs J Garget On the occasion of the laying of the Founda- tion Tablet of the Operating Theatre Erected in Memory of Robert Aland June 13th 1906.”