Royal Perth Hospital

Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) is a 855-bed teaching hospital located in Wellington Street near the centre of Perth, Western Australia as well as an annex in Shenton Park.

Related Topics:
Perth, Western Australia - Shenton Park

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Hospital traces its history back to the first colonial hospital which was established in a tent on Garden Island, just off the coast of Western Australia, in June 1829. In June 1830, the hospital tent was re-erected in Cathedral Avenue, Perth. From 1833 a more substantial colonial hospital operated for a short time from a rented room in a private house. Six years later, in December 1840, this was re-opened in a building formerly used as stables on the corner of St Georges Terrace and Irwin Street. The Hospital commenced operations on its present site on 14 July 1855 and was formally named the Colonial Hospital. In the years since, the Hospital has been known variously as the Perth Public Hospital, the Perth Hospital and finally, from 1946, as Royal Perth Hospital.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital was first established as an isolation tent hospital in the bush at Shenton Park during the outbreak of smallpox in April 1893. This hospital, variously known as the Isolation Hospital, the Victoria Hospital, the Infectious Diseases Branch and finally as the Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital, commenced its role as a major rehabilitation hospital with the rehabilitation of polio patients following the epidemic of 1948-56.http://www.rph.wa.gov.au/rph.html

Related Topics:
Smallpox - Polio

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Royal Perth Hospital also has a close association with the School of Medicine at the University of Western Australia, and with other state universities involved in the training of nursing and other health professionals. Teaching and research are an integral part of everyday activities at RPH and help to ensure continuing high standards of care for patients.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The high standing of RPH researchers is demonstrated by their significant contribution to the annals of international scientific literature each year. In 1998, a total of 158 articles and 114 abstracts were published in refereed medical, nursing and scientific journals. In addition, staff presented a total of 190 papers at national and international professional conferences.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Royal Perth Hospital motto is 'Servio'. The Hospital logo is based on the arms of the City of Perth and was first introduced in 1935. It comprises the St George's Cross on a white shield with a black swan in the top left canton and a banner inscribed with the word 'Servio.'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~