View source for The Children's Hospital at Westmead

{{redirect|Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children|the hospital in Brighton, England|Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox hospital
| name                  = The Children's Hospital at Westmead
| org/group             = Sydney Children's Hospital Network
| logo                  = 
| logo_size             = 
| image                 = Westmead Childrens Hospital 1.JPG
| image_size            = 225
| alt                   = 
| caption               = Hospital entrance
| coordinates           = {{coord|-33.8017|150.992|display=inline,title|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark}}
| location              = Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St
| region                = [[Westmead, New South Wales]]
| country               = Australia
| healthcare            = [[Medicare (Australia)]]
| funding               = Public
| type                  = Specialist; Teaching
| affiliation           = [[University of Sydney]]
| patron                = 
| network               = [[NSW Health]]
| standards             = 
| emergency             = Yes: Pediatric Major Trauma Centre
| beds                  = 340
| speciality            = [[Paediatric hospital]]
| helipad               = {{Airport codes||YXWM}}
| h1-number             = 1
| h1-length-f           = 
| h1-length-m           = 
| h1-surface            = aluminium
| founded               = 1880
| closed                = 
| demolished            = 
| website               = {{official website|url=https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/hospitals/chw}}
| other_links           = 
| module                = 
}}
'''The Children's Hospital at Westmead''' (CHW; formerly '''Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children''') is a [[children's hospital]] in [[Western Sydney]]. The hospital was founded in 1880 as "'''The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children'''". Its name was changed to the "Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children" on 4 January 1904 when [[King Edward VII]] granted use of the appellation 'Royal' and his consort, [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]], consented to the use of her name.

The Children's Hospital at Westmead is one of three children's hospitals in New South Wales. It is currently located on Hawkesbury Road in [[Westmead, New South Wales|Westmead]] and is affiliated with the [[University of Sydney]].

On 1 July 2010, The Children's Hospital at Westmead became part of the newly formed The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network ([[Sydney Children's Hospital|Randwick]] and Westmead), incorporating the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children.<ref>{{cite web | title=Health Services Order 2010 | publisher=NSW Government | url=http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/sessionalview/sessional/sr/2010-334.pdf}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Foundation as the Sydney Hospital for Sick Children ===
[[File:Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (Camperdown).jpg|left|thumb|RAHC Camperdown]]
The hospital was opened in 1880 as the Sydney Hospital for Sick Children. In 1878, Jessie Campbell-Browne, wife of the Member for [[Electoral district of Singleton|Singleton]], had gathered a group of women to discuss the merits of establishing a [[children's hospital]] in Sydney; the outcome of Campbell-Browne's overtures was the new hospital. It soon outgrew the small building in which it was housed at [[Glebe Point]]. In 1906, it moved to a much grander building, designed by [[Harry Kent (architect)|Harry Kent]] in [[Camperdown, New South Wales|Camperdown]], where it stayed for 89 years, where it was known as the '''Camperdown Children's Hospital'''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Venables |first=Lisa |title=Saving Zali |date=2014 |publisher=Pan Macmillan Australia |location=Sydney, Australia |isbn=978-1-74261-290-4 |page=34 |url=https://archive.org/details/savingzali0000vena/page/34/mode/2up?q=isbn|url-access=registration|orig-date=First published 2000}}</ref>

=== Relocation and renaming ===
In 1995, the hospital was relocated to its current location in [[Westmead, New South Wales|Westmead]] to better serve the growing populations of [[Western Sydney]]. This relocation involved amalgamation with most of the paediatric services of nearby Westmead Hospital (apart from neonates) to form a new hospital with a new name, initially "The New Children's Hospital" and, more recently, "The Children's Hospital at Westmead".

The official name of the Children's Hospital at Westmead, the "Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children", is retained.

==Services==
The Children's Hospital at Westmead is one of the busiest Children's Hospitals in [[New South Wales]] seeing over 80,000 patients annually. In addition to the emergency department, outpatient clinics and inpatient departments receive patients by general practitioner and specialist referral.<ref>{{cite web |title=Department quick list |url=https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/hospitals/chw/quick-list-chw |website=Sydney Children's Hospitals Network |language=en |date=26 June 2013}}</ref>

===Adolescent health===
The Adolescent Medicine at The Children's Hospital at Westmead seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of young people aged 12–24. The key focus areas include developing information and resources; capacity building to increase workers' skills and confidence in adolescent health; supporting applied research; advocacy and policy development to increase leadership and action for adolescent health.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/our-services/adolescent-medicine/chw |title=Adolescent Medicine at The Children's Hospital at Westmead |work=Sydney Children's Hospital|access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

== Paediatric transgender care controversy ==
In February 2023, a team of doctors at Westmead led by Joseph Elkadi, Catherine Chudleigh, and Ann M. Maguire published an article in the paediatric journal ''Children'' examining the developmental pathway and clinical outcomes of 79 transgender children who presented at the hospital's gender service, the conclusions of which are contested.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Elkadi |first1=Joseph |last2=Chudleigh |first2=Catherine |last3=Maguire |first3=Ann M. |last4=Ambler |first4=Geoffrey R. |last5=Scher |first5=Stephen |last6=Kozlowska |first6=Kasia |title=Developmental Pathway Choices of Young People Presenting to a Gender Service with Gender Distress: A Prospective Follow-Up Study |journal=Children |date=7 February 2023 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=314 |doi=10.3390/children10020314 |pmid=36832443 |pmc=9955757 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The authors concluded that gender-affirming healthcare is, in effect, "[[iatrogenic]]" and a "non-standard risky approach". Their conclusions were widely repeated in numerous articles in conservative or right-leaning media outlets in Australia, citing "legal and safety fears" over gender-affirming healthcare.<ref name= "karvelas fight">{{cite news |last1=Karvelas |first1=Patricia|last2=Robinson |first2=Lesley |last3=Hildebrandt |first3=Carla  |title=Controversial research pulls Westmead children's hospital into centre of fight over gender care |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-10/transgender-children-westmead-hospital-research-four-corners/102568570 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=9 July 2023 |access-date=9 July 2023}}; {{cite news |last1=Karvelas |first1=Patricia |last2=Robinson |first2=Lesley |last3=Hildebrandt |first3=Carla |title='We did all we could': Noah was desperate for gender care. He died waiting for help |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-10/transgender-children-westmead-hospital-research-four-corners/102568570 |work=ABC News |date=9 July 2023 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>For examples in one such newspaper, ''[[The Australian]]'', see:
* {{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Natasha |title=Doctor scrutiny on gender clinic reveals legal and safety fears |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/science/doctor-scrutiny-on-gender-clinic-reveals-legal-and-safety-fears/news-story/8af81768fde27884caf18fff345ab78a |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=2 March 2023 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Dudley |first1=Ellie |title=Doctors question trans healthcare policy research |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/doctors-question-trans-healthcare-policy-research/news-story/4c5c95adf6e20a787e1b11dba12f3a74 |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=2 March 2023 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Natasha |title=Devastated woman 'wants to spare future mothers and babies' with consequences of gender transition |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/devastated-woman-wants-to-spare-future-mothers-andbabies-with-consequences-of-gender-transition/news-story/0d09965b614bee81cce7110559962a83 |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=2 March 2023 }}
* For sources positioning ''the Australian'' newspaper as "right-leaning", see: 
**{{Cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2007/06/26/crikey-bias-o-meter-the-newspapers/|title=Crikey Bias-o-meter: The newspapers|date=26 June 2007|work=Crikey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007000403/https://www.crikey.com.au/2007/06/26/crikey-bias-o-meter-the-newspapers/|archive-date=7 October 2018}}
**{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Chris |author-link=Chris Mitchell (journalist) |date=9 March 2006 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2006/1586075.htm |title=The Media Report |work=ABC Radio National |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Company]] |archive-date=17 January 2008 |access-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117055725/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2006/1586075.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{citation |last1=Telfer |first1=M. M. |last2=Tollit |first2=M. A. |last3=Pace |first3=C. C. |last4=Pang |first4=K. C. |title=Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents |date=2020 |publisher=The Royal Children's Hospital; [[Australian Professional Association for Trans Health]] (AusPATH) |location=Melbourne |edition=Version 1.3 |url=https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/adolescent-medicine/australian-standards-of-care-and-treatment-guidelines-for-trans-and-gender-diverse-children-and-adolescents.pdf}}</ref> Commenting on media discussion of the research, an ABC Australia article by Patricia Karvelas, Lesley Robinson and Carla Hildebrandt said that the research was "being weaponised by anti-trans activists and proponents of alternative forms of gender care."<ref name= "karvelas fight"/>

The conclusions reached in Elkadi ''et al''{{'}}s article presenting their Westmead study were subsequently analysed and strongly disputed by the peak body for transgender healthcare in Australia, the Australian New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (AusPATH).<ref name= "AU path response">{{cite web |date=1 March 2023 |last=Telfar |first=Michelle |title=AusPATH response to: Elkadi; Chudleigh; Maguire; Ambler; Scher; Kozlowska (2023). 'Developmental Pathway Choices of Young People Presenting to a Gender Service with Gender Distress: A Prospective Follow-Up Study'. In ''Children'', '''10''' (2): 314 |url=https://auspath.org.au/2023/03/01/auspath-response-to-elkadi-j-chudleigh-c-maguire-a-m-ambler-g-r-schers-kozlowska-k-developmental-pathway-choices-of-young-people-presenting-to-a-gender-service-with-gender-distre/ |website=Australia New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (AusPATH) |access-date=1 July 2023}}
* In response to: Elkadi, J., ''et al''. (7 February 2023). "Developmental Pathway Choices of Young People Presenting to a Gender Service with Gender Distress: A Prospective Follow-Up Study". ''Children''. '''10''' (2): 314. {{doi|10.3390/children10020314|doi-access=free}}</ref> In a response letter dated 1 March 2023, AusPATH held that the Westmead study's authors displayed "significant bias" in their use of terminology and selection of supporting literature. For example, AusPATH found the Westmead article cited "discredited literature"; that it included a preponderance of marginal literature that tended to be critical of the gender-affirming approach, without any balancing consideration of the "well-described, established" body of work demonstrating benefits of the more medically-accepted treatments. AusPATH also identified what, in its view, were a range of methodological flaws and misrepresentations of data in the Westmead study. In particular, its use of the scientifically-unverified "Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria" (ROGD) classification for study participants compromises the validity of the Westmead research, according to AusPATH. The Westmead study's authors were also criticised for using "de-humanising" anti-trans language and for "pathologising" gender diversity in a discriminatory way in their article.<ref name= "karvelas fight"/><ref name= "AU path response"/>

In July 2023, the Health Minister for New South Wales, Ryan Park, announced the government would commission a state-wide review of gender-affirming care, to be undertaken by the health policy group the Sax Institute. The review was initiated following a "string of staff resignations", which [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News, Australia]] said were linked to the disputed research; the ABC characterised the research as "endorsed by the hospital hierarchy".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cornish |first1=Ruby |last2=Karvelas |first2=Patricia |title=Review announced into delivery of gender-affirming care in NSW following Four Corners investigation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-11/nsw-gender-affirmation-care-investigation-review/102585936 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=11 July 2023 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Transport ==
The Children's Hospital at Westmead has a light rail stop, served by the [[Parramatta Light Rail|L4 Westmead & Carlingford line]] operated by [[Light rail in Sydney|Sydney Light Rail]]. The stop opened on 20 December 2024.

== Notable people ==
===Notable staff and board members===
Some notable individuals connected to the history of the Children's Hospital are:
* Sir [[Lorimer Dods]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|LVO}} (1900–1981), paediatrician who founded, with assistance from Dr John G. Fulton and [[Douglas Burrows]], the [[Children's Medical Research Institute|Children's Medical Research Foundation]].<ref>{{cite encyclopaedia |last1=Yu |first1=John |title=Dods, Sir Lorimer Fenton (1900–1981) |date=2007 |location=Melbourne |publisher=Melbourne University Press |via=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=11 August 2012 |volume=17 |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dods-sir-lorimer-fenton-12426/text22341 |encyclopaedia=Australian Dictionary of Biography |isbn=9780522853827 |editor1=Dianne Langmore |editor2=Darryl Bennet}}</ref><ref name=hand/>{{rp|[https://archive.org/details/handinhandstoryo0000hami/page/200/mode/2up 201–211]}}
* Sir [[Charles Clubbe]] (1854–1932),<ref>{{cite encyclopaedia |last=Dods |first=Lorimer |encyclopaedia=Australian Dictionary of Biography |date=1981 |via=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-522-84219-4 |volume=8 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/clubbe-sir-charles-percy-barlee-5687 |title=Sir Charles Percy Barlee Clubbe (1854–1932) |editor1=Bede Nairn |editor2=Geoffrey Serle}}</ref> was the President of the hospital's Board of Management from 1904 until 1932, can perhaps be called the father of the Children's Hospital and is sometimes also mentioned as one of the pioneers of Australian [[orthopaedic surgery]]. Clubbe has a ward named after him.{{cn|date=September 2025}}
* Sir Robert Blakeway Wade (1874–1954), orthopaedic surgeon.<ref name=hand>{{cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=D. G. |title=Hand in hand: The story of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney |date=1979 |publisher=Ferguson |location=Sydney |isbn=978-0-909134-24-2 |pages=43–44 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/handinhandstoryo0000hami/page/n3/mode/2up}}</ref>{{rp|[https://archive.org/details/handinhandstoryo0000hami/page/42/mode/2up? 43–44]}} A hospital building completed in 1939, Wade House, was named in his honour; it features pictures of Australian fauna drawn on many walls by artist [[Pixie O'Harris]].
* Dr [[Margaret Hilda Harper]] (1879–1964), paediatrician who discovered the difference between [[coeliac disease]] and [[cystic fibrosis]] of the [[pancreas]] in 1930.<ref>{{cite encyclopaedia |last1=Cowden |first1=Victoria |encyclopaedia=Australian Dictionary of Biography |date=1983 |via=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |location=Netley, South Australia |isbn=0-522-84273-9 |volume=9 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/harper-margaret-hilda-6570 |title=Margaret Hilda Harper (1879–1964)|editor1=Bede Nairn |editor2=Geoffrey Serle |editor3=Christopher Cuneen}}</ref>
* Sir [[Norman Gregg]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MC|FRACS}} (1892–1966), [[ophthalmologist]]: the first person to identify [[German measles]] as a cause for [[congenital deformities]].<ref>{{cite encyclopaedia |last= Lancaster |first=Paul A. L. |encyclopaedia=Australian Dictionary of Biography |date=1996 |via=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |location=Melbourne |isbn= 0-522-84717-X |volume=14 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gregg-sir-norman-mcalister-10362 |title=
Sir Norman McAlister Gregg (1892–1966) |editor1=John Ritchie |editor2=Christopher Cuneen}}</ref>
* [[Rosa Angela Kirkcaldie]] CBE (1887–1972), charismatic matron 1922-1945<ref>{{Citation |last=Lincoln |first=Merrilyn |title=Rosa Angela Kirkcaldie (1887–1972) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kirkcaldie-rosa-angela-6972 |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |access-date=2023-12-08 |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en}}</ref>
*  Dr [[Lindsay Dey]] {{postnominals|country=GBR|CBE}} (1886–1973), [[paediatrician]]: President of the hospital's Board of Management from 1946 until 1959.{{cn|date=September 2025}}
* Dr [[Frank Tidswell]] (1867–1941), [[microbiologist]]: Director of Pathology from 1913 until 1941{{cn|date=September 2025}}
* Dr. R. [[Douglas Reye]] (1912–1977), fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, after whom [[Reye's syndrome]] was named, worked at the hospital from 1939 until his death.{{cn|date=September 2025}}
* Dr Marcel Sofer–Schreiber {{postnominals|country=AUS|FRACS}} {{postnominals|country=GBR|FRCS|MRCS}} <small>[[MBBS]] Sydney, 1931</small> (1910–1994), paediatric neurosurgeon, led the way in Australia in the treatment of hydrocephalus, using the Spitz–Holter [[Cerebral shunt|shunt]] in the 1960s. He went on to train many doctors to carry out this procedure, thus saving the lives of countless babies, and leaving a lasting legacy. He published extensively on his specialty with papers on hydrocephalus, head injuries and spinal tumours. He was also the first surgeon to draw attention to the potentially deadly condition of [[subdural haematoma]] in infants.{{cn|date=September 2025}}
* [[Isobelle Mary Ferguson]] (1926–2019), [[Aboriginal Australian|Aboriginal]] nurse and activist, the first known Aboriginal person to train at the hospital, completing her first year in 1945<ref name=adb>{{cite web | last1=Best | first1=Odette | last2=Slinger | first2=Abigaill |first3=Rani |last3=Kerin | title=Isobelle Mary Ferguson | website=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]| publisher = [[ANU]]. [[National Centre of Biography]] | date=28 October 2024 | url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ferguson-isobelle-mary-33932 | access-date=30 September 2025| quote=This article was published: in the ''Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography'' online in 2024| others=Research edited by Rani Kerin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133032200 |title=Personal |newspaper=[[The Dubbo Liberal And Macquarie Advocate]] |volume=73 |issue=99 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=25 August 1945 |accessdate=30 September 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>

=== Notable patient ===
Notable individual connected to the history of the Children's Hospital are:
*[[Sophie Delezio]] (born 2001) – treated at the hospital after being badly injured in a car crash at two years old. She suffered burns to 85 per cent of her body but survived and was released from hospital six months later in June 2004.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Delezio |first1=Carolyn |title=Sophie's Day of Difference |url=https://dayofdifference.org.au/about/sophies-story/ |website=Day of Difference |access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of hospitals in Australia]]
* [[Healthcare in Australia]]
* [[Sydney Children's Hospital]]
* [[Westmead Hospital]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Children's Hospital at Westmead, The}}
[[Category:Children's hospitals in Australia]]
[[Category:Teaching hospitals in Australia]]
[[Category:Hospitals in Sydney]]
[[Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1906]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Australia with royal patronage]]
[[Category:Hospitals established in 1880]]
[[Category:1880 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sydney Medical School]]
[[Category:Camperdown, New South Wales]]