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ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL
SYDNEY
HEART & LUNG TRANSPLANT UNIT
A major public hospital and a principal referral hospital, St
Vincent's specialises in heart/lung transplantation; bone marrow
transplantation; cardiology; cancer; HIV medicine; respiratory
medicine; mental health; and drug and alcohol services.
The Hospital has a long-standing reputation for treating the
highest acuity and complex patient loads, attracting referrals on a
state-wide and national basis.
St Vincent's functions as part of the South East Area Health
Service under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of
SV&MHS, the Area Health Board and the Minister for Health. The
Hospital is a teaching hospital of the UNSW and has academic
associations with the Australian Catholic University, Sydney
University and the University of Technology, Sydney
Located in Darlinghurst, Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital is only
minutes from Sydney CDB which comprises of: The Rocks, Milsons
Point, Pyrmont, Surrey Hills, Kings Cross, Woolloomooloo, Elizabeth
Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, and Vaucluse. There are also
excellent hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants just minutes from St
Vincent’s Hospital main entrance.
The St Vincent’s Hospital transplant program is one of the largest
and longest running programs in Australia with survival rates which
exceed that of the international figures. The first heart
transplant in Australia was performed by Dr Harry Windsor at St
Vincent’s Hospital in 1968. However, it was not until 1984 that the
National Heart Transplant Program was commenced by Dr Victor Chang
and the second heart transplant was carried out eventually leading
to the first heart-lung transplant in 1986. It was only natural
that the heart transplantation program would soon be followed by
the development of a lung transplantation program. This milestone
was reached in 1990 when the first single lung transplant in
Australia was performed at St Vincent’s Hospital and the program
has since expanded to include bilateral lung transplantation. The
transplant unit also runs a mechanical heart device program which
can offer patients waiting for a donor to become available an
improved quality of life and increased chance of survival; this
technology is also a treatment option for patients with heart
failure who are not eligible for transplantation.
The transplant unit is the only heart and lung transplant
program in New South Wales and as such has transplanted many
recipients from metropolitan and rural regions like Moree, Wagga
Wagga, and Tamworth. Furthermore, the St Vincent’s Hospital
transplant unit is also the major referral centre for South
Australia and has performed many successful transplants on
recipients from the southern state.
The transplant unit is involved in cutting edge research and
clinical trials and has affiliations with Victor Chang Cardiac
Research Institute and the Garvan Institute for Medical
Research.
The heart and lung transplantation program at St Vincent’s
Hospital, Sydney performs on average approximately 20 heart and 35
lung transplants a year. To date the unit has performed more than
1200 transplants, 709 hearts transplants, 339 bilateral lungs
transplants, 141 single lung transplants and 76 heart-lung
transplants.
The heart and lung transplantation program at St Vincent’s
Hospital, Sydney is government funded, although relies heavily on
donations from the community.
For further information please contact either:
Ms Michelle Harkess
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Heart & Lung Transplantation
mharkess@stvincents.com.au
Ms Bernadette Madigan
Nursing Unit Manager
Heart Lung Clinic
bmadigan@stvincents.com.au
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