Page 9 - HA Convention 2016 [Abstracts (Day 2)]

Symposiums HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2016

S11.3 Improving Clinical Effectiveness 14:30 Theatre 1

Role of Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation in Helping the Sick Kids of Melbourne
Yates P
Royal Children’s Hospital Federation, Australia

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) of Victoria was founded in Melbourne in 1870 by Doctors Smith and Singleton. Central
to their capacity to establish the “Melbourne Hospital for Sick Children” as it was first known, were a small number of
committed women, who assisted by providing beds, blankets and other facilities. So began the history of philanthropy for the
RCH. Giving to the hospital has continued and grown ever since.

In 1922, at the request of the Committee of Management of the hospital, a group of 40 women established the RCH
Auxiliaries, which today has over 60 separate volunteer fundraising groups. In 1931 a major local newspaper, the Herald and
Weekly Times owned by Sir Keith Murdoch established an annual appeal for the hospital on Good Friday.

In 1989, The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation was established as a stand-alone trust and now oversees the fundraising
of the hospital. It acts as trustee for all funds raised and grants those funds to the RCH in line with funding principles
designed to drive excellence. In 2015 a total of AUD43 million (HKD215million) was raised and AUD35 million (HKD165 million)
of grants were made. Granting to the hospital supports its needs in four areas — equipment, research, great clinical care and
leadership.

Today the RCH is a public hospital funded by the State Government of Victoria. In 2011 a completely rebuilt hospital was
opened. Funded by the State Government of Victoria, as a Pubic Private Partnership the total cost was AUD1.1 billion. It is
considered to be one of the leading paediatric hospitals in the world. Although it is publically funded the excellence of the
hospital has been enabled substantially through the generous philanthropy of the people of Victoria for over 145 years.

The speech will explain this history of engagement with the public and the key people and events over the past 145 years
that have created this connection. The speech will also share how the Foundation’s Grants Committee evaluates projects to
be funded. As a public hospital, one of the challenges is to ensure the monies raised by the Foundation are used to finance
excellence, not operational activities which are the responsibility of the state government.

The unique position of the RCH, and its relationship with both the people and the Government of Victoria may have some
interesting lessons and possible ideas to be considered by the community of Hong Kong regarding its soon to be opened
children’s hospital.

Wednesday, 4 May

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