FROM welcoming babies into the world to supporting cancer patients through tough treatments, staff at Mater Private Hospital Redland have today looked back on 20 years in the Redlands.
Opening its doors on Weippin Street in 2000, the hospital was the seventh in the Mater group.
Community guests and staff celebrated the milestone at a morning tea this morning.
The Redlands' only private hospital facility, the 60-bed hospital has specialist surgical and medical services including a dedicated cancer care centre, which allows patients to be treated close to home.
Since the centre was opened in 2019, more than 3500 cancer treatments have been carried out.
In 20 years, more than 76,000 people have been treated in its Day Procedure Unit, and staff have performed 36,000 theatre cases.
More than 2700 babies have been born there since Mater Mothers' Private Redland opened in 2010.
Clinical director Carlie Nielsen said the facility had a strong community focus.
"We have some staff on our team who have worked at Mater Private Hospital Redland for the 20 years we have been in operation, which I think says a lot about the team environment and the dedication of our staff to the local community," she said.
Perioperative services manager Grant Jones, who has worked at the hospital since day one, said he had watched it grow significantly throughout the years.
"We started off doing 100 patients a year, then 200, then 300 ... now we've grown to service 10,000 to 12,000 patients a year," he said.
"Mater Private Hospital Redland has undergone some incredible changes since opening in 2000, including the commencement of some much-needed services such as day haematology and oncology treatments and day rehabilitation services."
Cheryl McWilliams, another staff member of 20 years, said the staff felt like one big family, working toward a common goal.
"I think the patients are who we're working for - (we want to) make everyone happy and help them enjoy their stay.
"Right from the start to now, the staff are a family that really want to give that special care."
Also among the attendees at the ceremony was Sister Marcia Maranta, who was appointed pastoral counsellor, chaplain, education of staff and management in the values and philosophy of the hospital when it first opened.
She shared many a laugh with staff members as they looked back on happy memories.
Councillor Peter Mitchell, who formerly worked on-site as a physiotherapist, said Mater Private Hospital Redland had grown with the Redlands community.
He said there were big plans for healthcare in the Redlands, in which the Mater would play an important role.
"We'd like to see our hospitals at the heart of a knowledge and technology precinct, which contains a core level of high care health, education, research or similar facilities," he said.
Timeline
1990s- Queensland Health adopts concept of co-locating private and public healthcare services on government land.
2000- Mater Private Hospital Redland opens its doors, located near the existing public Redland Hospital
2010- Mater Mothers' Private Redland opens
2019- Hospital opens its new oncology facilities to treat cancer patients
