 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
From
modest beginnings, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute has grown
to become Australia's largest cancer centre and one of the few specialist
oncology facilities in the world. Along the way it has gained international
recognition for the quality of its treatment, patient care, research
and education services. |
|
|
|
It took the concerted
efforts of people such as Professor Sir Peter MacCallum and Dr Rutherford
Kaye-Scott, to convince the Victorian Government to establish a Cancer
Institute in March 1949. The Board met for the first time on 27 April
that year and began work on a budget of 3,000 pounds in one room of
the former Queen Victoria Hospital in William Street, Melbourne. The
date of that historic first meeting has been adopted as the Institute's
official anniversary.
By 1950,
an outpatient clinic had been established and named in honour of Professor
MacCallum, who had been a tireless advocate and driving force for
a centralised cancer institute for Victoria.
In 1986
the name was changed to Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute -'The Peter
Mac' and by this time the Institute was located in 11 buildings in
and around Melbourne as well as operating consultative clinics in
a number of Melbourne metropolitan teaching hospitals and country
centres.
Approval
was given in 1990 to move Peter Mac to the site of the former St Andrew's
Hospital in East Melbourne, Building of the new clinical block commenced
in 1991 and, at the same time, substantial renovations and alterations
to the existing buildings were undertaken.
By September
1994, the new premises became fully functional, bringing all of the
Institute's services together and making its operations vastly more
efficient for patients and staff
In August
1995, the Institute became a member of the Inner Health Care Network.
On June 30 1996, The Inner Health Care Network and the Eastern Health
Care Network amalgamated to form the Inner and Eastern Health Care
Network.
The Institute
has 151 registered beds, and each year cares for 9,000 inpatients
as well as providing more than 200,000 occasions of outpatient care.
Peter Mac now has large academic Divisions of Research, Radiation
Oncology, Haematology, and Medical Oncology, and an evolving Division
of Surgical Oncology.
With a magnificent
new home of its own and world-class staff and facilities, Peter Mac
can look forward with confidence to serving the community with distinction
for another 50 years.
|
|
|
|
|
