Australia is recognised across the world as a wonderful place to live. That’s often because of beautiful beaches, relaxed lifestyles and world-class universities, but it’s also because of access to expert healthcare.
Australia has many large state of the art hospitals, including one in almost every state capital city. Read on to learn the top 10 biggest hospitals in Australia.
Are Biggest Hospitals in Australia Better?
Before we start the list, you might be wondering if you would even want to go to biggest hospitals in Australia?
Whether you are attending as a patient, or working there as a nurse, the good news is that bigger hospitals are generally more efficient. A University of Queensland 2017 study collected known data and statistical analysis, and then created simulations to test different scenarios.
They found that the biggest hospitals in Australia would be more capable of handling surges of patient intakes, and were less impacted by employee shortages. Given surges and understaffing are the most likely factors to put pressure on a hospital, this generally indicates that the bigger the hospital, the more people it can treat effectively.
What Defines the Biggest Hospitals in Australia?
What do we use to measure the biggest hospitals in Australia? The physical size of its buildings? The size of its staff?
Not quite.
Taking the previously mentioned study into account, defining the biggest hospitals in Australia is best done with the amount of beds – and therefore the amount of patients – that they can look after. After all, the main objective of a hospital is to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, so using patient capacity is an accurate measure.
The 10 Biggest Hospitals in Australia
In descending order, here are the 10 biggest hospitals in Australia.
1. Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
1000 beds
Herston, Brisbane, Queensland
The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) is by far the biggest hospital in Australia, with a whopping 1000 beds! Operated by the Queensland government, it offers comprehensive public health services, specialty care, research and tertiary teaching opportunities.
Over the course of its more than 150 years of operation, RBWH has developed ties to over 14 national universities, three TAFE campuses, and the Australian Defence Force. Its research is also world-leading, especially in innovating new ways to improve patient outcomes.
2. Gold Coast University Hospital
930 beds
Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland
Falling just shy of the top spot, the silver medallist is also the first time Queensland has been represented on this list. Gold Coast University Hospital is Queensland’s largest clinical teaching hospital. It is also one of the fastest growing hospitals on this list due to the Gold Coast’s surging population.
While we agreed to use the number of beds as the measure for the biggest hospital, it can’t be overlooked that across all seven of Gold Coast’s on-site buildings, it has a staggering 170,000 square metres of floor space. Designed with expansion in mind, this floor space is sure to accommodate any surges of patients or new facilities in the coming decades.
3. Hollywood Private Hospital
900 beds
Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia
Taking out the bronze medal is the Hollywood Private Hospital. This private hospital is owned by Ramsay Health Care, the biggest private hospital owner in Australia. Not only is Hollywood the largest hospital in Western Australia, it is also the largest private hospital in Australia.
Hollywood has a range of specialities, from cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, to robotic surgery and a renowned cancer treatment service.
4. Royal Adelaide Hospital
800 beds
Port Road, Adelaide, South Australia
This list has taken us up and down the East and West Coasts, but for the first time, the Royal Adelaide Hospital takes us to South Australia. Known for its tertiary teaching and huge number of yearly patients, 85,000 inpatients and 400,000 inpatients, it is Adelaide’s flagship public hospital.
As well as its ability to provide high-level care for medical, surgical and mental health services, it is also known for its specialist acute spinal and brain injury rehabilitation program.
5. Westmead Hospital
800 beds
Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales
Of all the hospitals on this list, Westmead Hospital might be the most likely to climb the rankings. With a $1.1B redevelopment program currently well under way, Westmead is planning to grow in size and efficiency well into the future.
Westmead offers comprehensive services, but it is best known for its specialty services, especially for major trauma. This has led to it being one of the premier referral hospitals not only in Sydney, but Australia-wide. It also boasts some strong affiliated services, such as the well-known Westmead Children’s Hospital.
6. Fiona Stanley Hospital
783 beds
Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia
Fiona Stanley Hospital is a major tertiary teaching public hospital. Offering health care services to both adults and children, it offers both acute and general care, including rehabilitation and aged care. It also specialises in burn, lung and bone marrow treatment.
As part of the Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (FSGHG), Fiona Stanley Hospital has an ongoing mission to make transferring from the hospital site to the other specialty care sites in the region as seamless as possible.
7. Concord Repatriation General Hospital
750 beds
Concord, Sydney, New South Wales
Returning to the East Coast, Concord Repatriation General Hospital is a University of Sydney affiliated teaching hospital that forms an integral part of Western Sydney’s healthcare service. It has a proud legacy of veteran community care which lives on today in its state of the art palliative care units.
While it also specialises in burns, colorectal and laparoscopic surgery, it’s best known for its research. Molecular biology research is a strong focus at Concord, made easier with its impressive genetics’ laboratory.
8. Joondalup Health Campus
722 beds
Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia
Taking things across the country to Western Australia, the Joondalup Health Campus has a mix of public and private care offerings, with the private hospital, opened in 2013, being a relatively recent addition.
Joondalup has an acute care hospital, a GP, specialist medical clinics, a special care nursery and a cardiovascular catheter laboratory, just to name a few! Perth’s northern suburbs are growing quickly, and Joondalup Health Campus is committed to growing with that demand.
9. Sydney Adventist Hospital
700 beds
Upper North Shore, Sydney, New South Wales
The Sydney Adventist Hospital also nicknamed ‘The San’ is 117 years old. It’s owned and operated by Adventist Healthcare Limited, a Christian care provider. Despite being a private facility, it is funded through the not-for-profit activities of Adventist Healthcare’s owner, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
The San paved the way for maternity care, and is a leading maternity provider to this day. It also has a notable holistic approach to cancer treatment and care, and is known for having a mix of class-leading specialists and robotics enhanced operating theatres.
10. Monash Medical Centre
640 beds
Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria
Coming in at 10th on the list, Monash Medical Centre specialises in surgical, medical, allied health and mental health services. It is also an internationally recognised teaching and research hospital.
Monash is publicly funded, and also has one of Australia’s best children’s hospitals integrated on site, with more than 30 specialist services available to help child patients and their families.
Nurses Now
Across the biggest hospitals in Australia, there are 8025 beds just on this list alone. That’s a lot of patients!
Bigger hospitals hold more patients, which therefore means they need more employees to care for these patients. But with staffing shortages and strikes across the country, it can be difficult to maintain adequate staffing levels.
Nursing agencies help ease the pressure on hospitals, especially bigger ones, during patient surges. Nurses Now is one such agency, and we are always on the lookout for new nurses who enjoy being placed in hospital acute care roles where they are needed.
If you’d like to join our agency, or you know someone who would be perfect, get in touch today.