St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney established one of Australia’s first Intensive Care Units (ICU) in the 1960s to aid recovery from major surgery, accidents, and life-threatening diseases.
Over the years, the Foundation’s support has grown to include vital equipment, training, research, and capital. Our generous donors have consistently supported the ICU, supplementing funding from the NSW government.
As St Vincent’s Hospitals embark on projects to build six new single intensive care rooms or ‘pods’ with state-of-the-art infection control and ventilation systems, and to redevelop the St Vincent’s Private Hospital Intensive Care Unit, the Foundation is stepping up to support the fundraising needs.
The ICU is a tertiary referral centre for state, national and international transfers related to heart and lung transplantation, artificial heart technology and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The unit also provides state services for bone marrow transplantation, acute respiratory and neurological disorders, and adult trauma cases.
Optimal patient care relies on securing capital funding for ICU expansion, upgrading equipment, ongoing staff training, and continuous research. The Jarry Program for Intensive Care Nursing has been a key pillar in supporting the development of specialist intensive care nurses for over 20 years, thanks to the vision of Barbara Jarry and the late Kevin Jarry.
A/Prof Hergen Buscher, Director of ICU, says, “In the ICU, timing and being quick to respond and diagnose the patient at their bedside without moving them or waiting for results is critical. ICU beds are now like computers on wheels.”
From 2016 to 2019, a fundraising campaign raised $3.2 million to replace all equipment, purchase 20 new critical care beds, advanced ventilators, bedside monitors, and other essentials, making St Vincent’s ICU one of the best-equipped hospitals in Australia. This was crucial during the COVID-19, pandemic in 2020. We extend our gratitude to Mr John Parthenis, the late Enny Shaw, and a generous anonymous donor whose support enabled this redevelopment.
During the pandemic, critically ill patients were sent to St Vincent’s ICU from across the state. This period highlighted the need for single units to protect our patients and control infectious diseases. We thank our generous donors who this year, have supported the development of six new ICU pods, increasing our capacity by 30 percent.
Watch our recent Inside St Vincent’s – Intensive Focus on Intensive Care Webinar