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Description

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About Dalcross Private Hospital
Dalcross is situated within the Upper North Shore location of Killara amongst established residential homes Killara is about 16kms north of Sydney GPO and about 4 kms north of Chatswood

The hospital was established in 1912 and has developed an excellent reputation as a premier private hospital in Australia It is also an affiliated teaching hospital of the University of Sydney specialising in Neurosurgery Spinal surgery Vascular surgery and Ophthalmology

The hospital is fully accredited by the ACHS as a quality facility In 1996 the hospital won the prestigious APHA award as a Centre of Excellence In the under 100 bed category

Dalcross is often described as a technology hospital supported by highly specialist staff and doctors that remain at the cutting edge of their specialties in the interest of quality patient care

In recent years Dalcross has established an excellent reputation as one of Australias foremost niche independent private hospitals The referral base is certainly international especially for cerebrovascular and spinal surgery

Based on 2003 inpatient statistics Dalcross is Australias busiest neurosurgical Centre in the private sector with 30 of the practising neurosurgeons in New South Wales undertaking the majority of their private surgery at Dalcross

In 2003 10 of private spinal surgery in New South Wales was undertaken at Dalcross This is the highest of any other private hospital

Dalcross is the only private unit in Australia that routinely undertakes NeuroInterventional Radiology such as coiling embolisation and thrombolytic stroke treatment

Over the years the hospital in conjunction with the surgeons has pioneered a number of first procedures in Australia such as

The replacement of a cancerous vertebra with a carbon fibre vertebra

The first bilateral cervical disc replacement surgery

The first successful trial of Magnesium therapy in the management of
vasospasm

The first bilateral pallidotomy for Parkinson disease

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History

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History of Dalcross
1912 1961
Early records are not specific about the date on which the original Federation building was commenced or completed but the land was purchased by the builders Hinley on 21 January 1911 and it is reasonable to assume that the house was built soon after Miss M Ray started the hospital in 1912 naming it Chesalon There were 23 beds and an operating theatre on the upper floor which was usual at that time

In 1923 she sold the hospital to the McIntosh family who renamed Dalcross after the scottish seat of the McIntosh Clan Dalcross was originally an obstetric hospital however illnesses of all types and surgery increasingly became an important part of the hospitals activity By 1942 obstetrics was abandoned The hospital was very successful and became an interal part of the local community the majority of whom were born here eventually died here and in between were treated for many ailments In the latter years the old verandahs were enclosed and converted into wards to meet the demand

In 1961 Miss McIntosh retired and the hospital was sold to Herbert Altman

19611987
Immediately following the purchase Mr Altman built a new surgical wing behind the old hospital building This increased the bed capacity from 23 to 60 provided a modern operating theatre and a lift to transport patients It was opened in 1963 and the old south wing became a medical ward

In 1968 the property was sold to Mr Goldberg of Protea Pharmaceuticals and continued under his care until 1976 when it was again sold to Victor Hammond It was early in this period that the second new wing was built the first one having run in an east to west direction and this one at right angles in a northsouth fashion Comfortable suites with two beds and ensuite bathrooms raised the standard of accommodation considerably and increased the number of beds to 91 A second operating theatre was also added

In 1987 in agreement with the Health Department the original building was decommissioned as inpatient accommodation because of modern safety and fire department requirements The capacity of the hospital was reduced to 58 beds and the federation building was used for radiology and office accommodation Licensed beds remained at 91

The whole hospital was in need of refurbishment and the general maintenance had been neglected Various inspections by the Health Authorities and Council highlighted many areas requiring attention The owners considered development but in 1987 their application for the construction of a new front twostorey hospital wing was refused

1987 1992
In 1988 the owners considered relocating the hospital to a new site and converting the hospital to a retirement complex This did not eventuate and in 1989 the hospital was sold to the Norton Group of Companies This company had specific intentions to redevelop the hospital into a modern private hospital and was successful in 1990 with their development application to demolish the federation building and construct a two storey 91 bed hospital 2 theatres and a Day Surgery Unit with under cover parking

Unfortunately in September 1990 the Norton Group of Companies was placed in receivership The ownership of the hospital reverted to Natwest Bank Various valuations alternatives market opportunities and even closure were considered by the bank However due to the commitment of the staff and medical practitioners and community support the hospital remained open

In the period of 1980 1992 relations with local residents were very strained with number of court cases

Natwest commenced the refurbishment of the hospital Priority was given to the essential services such as Fire Department requirements electrical installation theatre airconditioning removal of incinerators contaminated waste disposal plumbing and hot water services Theatres ward accommodation and basic infrastructure remained inadequate and this factor coupled with the rebuilding of the Mater Hospital at Crows Nest had considerable impact on the traditional users of Dalcross Hospital and occupancy declined

In late 1991 the upper floor of the North Wing adjacent to the theatres was converted to a Day Surgical facility and expanded recovery ward This was opened in April 1992 The decommissioned South Wing Federation building was converted into a rehabilitation unit approved by the Health Department

A complete refurbishment upgrading of technology and review of policy and procedure was undertaken The hospitals capacity was reduced from 58 beds to 38 beds plus 15 day surgical beds In August 1992 the hospital was granted rehabilitation status by the Health Department in addition to the surgical and medical licence