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For nearly 120 years, St Stephen’s Hospital has been a part of the Fraser Coast community and has provided compassionate care for countless residents and their families.

From its origins in Maryborough in 1905 to the hospital’s present-day location in Hervey Bay, St Stephen’s has grown into an innovative regional hospital providing access to specialist care close to home.

This October, St Stephen’s is celebrating 10 years since beginning a new chapter and opening the doors of its state-of-the-art hospital in Hervey Bay.

St Stephen’s General Manager, Peter Wood, said the anniversary is a special opportunity to reflect, celebrate and look forward to an exciting vision for the future.

“St Stephen’s Hospital has a long history in the Wide Bay and is an integral part of our community, and our regional health system more broadly,” Peter said.

“To mark this anniversary, we’re looking forward to welcoming the community into our hospital to join us as we reflect on our history and celebrate all that has been achieved over the past decade,” he said.

Since opening in Hervey Bay in October 2014, St Stephen’s has continued to grow by bringing new healthcare services and technology to the region.

From establishing a purpose-built rehabilitation service in 2016 to the opening of the Forbes Cancer Care Centre in 2019, there is so much to celebrate.

“When the hospital relocated in 2014, St Stephen’s lead the way as Australia’s first fully integrated digital hospital. Since then, the hospital has continued to grow and develop with a strong focus on expanding its range of services,” Peter said.

“More recently, we have commissioned the first orthopaedic robot in the region, expanded our rehabilitation services, and have been recognised internationally for embracing technology to transform the way we deliver healthcare,” he said.

But it’s not all about innovation and technology, at the heart of what St Stephen’s does are the patients they care for.

“Our teams work hard every day to continually develop the holistic care we can provide for our patients and their loved ones,” Peter said.

“Whether that comes in the form of support from our Veteran Liaison Officer, a conversation with one of our dedicated volunteers, or feeling welcomed and culturally safe by seeing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork and spending time in our new Yarning Circle, for example.”

For St Stephen’s, the healthcare professionals who choose to work there and all the people who will benefit from its care, the future looks bright.

“The Wide Bay community is growing exponentially, and we are always considering how we can grow alongside to complement existing services and provide a greater depth of healthcare for our community,” Peter said.

“We’re proud to partner with our visiting specialists, local network of General Practitioners and with the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service among others to help ensure patients can access the care they need, when they need it most.  

“We know from community feedback that there is a strong call for us to expand with pain management, cardiac, urology and Ear, Nose and Throat services, and to establish a private Emergency Department at St Stephen’s, among other suggestions.

“We listen to all feedback and are continually planning for our future development, and that includes considering all these suggestions as part of our plans for the next ten years and beyond.

“We’re proud to play a part in bringing great care to the Fraser Coast and are grateful to all those who trust us with their healthcare. We look forward to celebrating with our community, and to a very exciting future ahead for St Stephen’s.”

Join the fun and celebrations at St Stephen’s Family Community Day on Sunday 20 October 2024. For more information, visit ststephenshospital.com.au.