In February 2016, the transformation of Mater’s heritage-listed Whitty Building into a world-class health education precinct was completed, following the completion of 12 months of construction works.
Originally constructed in 1911, the newly refurbished building includes training facilities and a clinical school for medical, nursing and midwifery, and allied health students. The new facility will host students from Mater Education and The University of Queensland.
Named in honour of Mother Mary Vincent Whitty, the Whitty Building served as the Mater Public Hospital from February 1911 until November 1981, when Mater Adult Hospital opened.
Many of the building’s historical features have been preserved and restored throughout the redevelopment to ensure that the historical value of the Whitty Building is never lost.
The Whitty Building was officially opened on 20 April 2016. During the ceremony, the building was blessed by His Grace, The Most Reverend Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane. The opening was attended by Queensland Health Director-General Mr Michael Walsh, Mater and UQ Board and Executive, and the project team.
Mater neurosurgeons partner with ROSA the robot in an Australian first
On 22 February 2016 Mater surgeons successfully performed Australia's first surgery using the ROSA robot, giving new hope to people with epilepsy.
Mater Neurosurgeon Dr Jason Papacostas said thousands of Queenslanders suffer from epilepsy; a neurological condition that affects the nervous system.
“Epilepsy affects up to 90 000 Queensland families, many of whom do not respond to medical treatment and therefore surgery is their best option.
ROSA, a Robotized Surgical Assistant, represents a new milestone for neurosurgeons and their patients, halving surgery time and offering increased efficiency, security and flexibility.
Epileptologist Dr Sasha Dionisio said that for the first time, patients with refractory epilepsy can undergo the Stereo EEG procedure in Queensland.
“Mater’s Centre for Neurosciences is one of only three teams in Australia who perform Stereo EEG procedures in the country, and the only hospital in Australia with ROSA robotic assistant technology.”
Mater undertakes Australian first in-utero spinal surgery
On 23 July 2016 a team from Mater, in collaboration with a team from Vanderbilt University Hospital in the USA, were the first in Australia to have performed in-utero spinal surgery on a baby diagnosed with spina bifida at Mater Mothers' Hospital.
Spina Bifida is a condition where the lower part of a baby’s spine is open and it affects 1 in 2000 pregnancies in Australia. Currently families often discover the diagnosis of spina bifida at their 18 to 20 week ultrasound scan and to date, Australian parents have had to wait until the baby is born to perform surgery.
Mater’s team, led by Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine Dr Glenn Gardener, performed the surgery on a 24 week-old in-utero baby on 23 July.
This surgery was able to be carried out, thanks to donations including one from the Mater Mothers’ Hospitals Auxiliary.