Latest news
7 August 2026
Tackling men’s health head on
Staying on top of one’s health can be tough, with many men opting to delay or avoid important conversations about their health until it comes to the crunch.
News , Metro North , TPCH
1 August 2026
Meningococcal Alert for Brisbane
Metro North Public Health Unit confirmed a case of invasive meningococcal disease at St John’s College, UQ, on Saturday 1 August 2026.
30 July 2026
Honouring five decades of dedicated service at RBWH
RBWH reached the end of an era with the retirement of Dr Barry O’Loughlin after a 50-year association with the hospital.
News , Metro North , RBWH
24 July 2026
Dr Liz Rushbrook reflects on a decade at Metro North during her last week as CMO
After ten years as our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Liz Rushbrook prepares for a well-deserved break from full-time work and shares her thoughts on her unique contributions to Metro North.
Events
Advanced Life Support – Level 1 Course
Level 1 courses are for those clinicians who want general competence in airway management and basic life support for a deteriorating patient and cardiac arrest. Suitable if you normally are part of team rather than the lead.
Queensland Health Spirometry Training Program – The Prince Charles Hospital
The Spirometry training program provides clinicians with the skills, knowledge and specific competencies required to perform spirometry to international standards and Queensland Health guidelines.
Advanced Life Support – Level 1 Course
Level 1 courses are for those clinicians who want general competence in airway management and basic life support for a deteriorating patient and cardiac arrest. Suitable if you normally are part of team rather than the lead.
Masks are an important defence against respiratory illness and protection from dust and other airborne hazards.Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Cnr Butterfield St and
Bowen Bridge Rd
HERSTON QLD 4029
Phone: (07) 3646 8111
Feedback about your care
RBWH-PLS@health.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3646 8216
/ MetroNorthHHS
![This year marks the 60th of year of Irenes nursing and midwifery career, commencing at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 1966 before moving to the RBWH in 1973, and starting her midwifery studies in 1975. 👩⚕️🌟
Over the last 60 years, Irene has seen many changes to nursing practice, most recently being the introduction of the integrated electronic Medical Record patient record system (ieMR) for which she has recently completed her training.
Going live [with ieMR] is going to be very advantageous because were not waiting for notes to be uploaded or waiting for someone to input them. It’s difficult when youre learning it as its a completely new way of thinking, but I think it will be cool, Irene said.
When the Centre for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment was introduced, and I didnt really want to go there because I didnt know what I had to do. But I went there and truly it was the best part of my working career, being able to support women with abnormalities in their pregnancy.
Speaking on some of her career highlights, Irene finds it hard to choose just one.
I was fortunate enough to be working in theatre when they did the first kidney transplant in Queensland, I was also the first nurse in our training to get married, so I didnt have to live in during my last two years - and I did classes for non-English speaking women with our interpreters where we would work through their birth plan!
👏 A massive #ShoutoutSaturday to Irene and her successful and ongoing 60-year career!](https://metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/rbwh/wp-content/plugins/custom-facebook-feed-pro/assets/img/placeholder.png)
This year marks the 60th of year of Irene's nursing and midwifery career, commencing at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 1966 before moving to the RBWH in 1973, and starting her midwifery studies in 1975. 👩⚕️🌟
Over the last 60 years, Irene has seen many changes to nursing practice, most recently being the introduction of the integrated electronic Medical Record patient record system (ieMR) for which she has recently completed her training.
"Going live [with ieMR] is going to be very advantageous because we're not waiting for notes to be uploaded or waiting for someone to input them. It’s difficult when you're learning it as it's a completely new way of thinking, but I think it will be cool," Irene said.
"When the Centre for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment was introduced, and I didn't really want to go there because I didn't know what I had to do. But I went there and truly it was the best part of my working career, being able to support women with abnormalities in their pregnancy.
Speaking on some of her career highlights, Irene finds it hard to choose just one.
"I was fortunate enough to be working in theatre when they did the first kidney transplant in Queensland, I was also the first nurse in our training to get married, so I didn't have to live in during my last two years - and I did classes for non-English speaking women with our interpreters where we would work through their birth plan!"
👏 A massive #ShoutoutSaturday to Irene and her successful and ongoing 60-year career!
That's incredible. 60yrs. You would have seen so many changes. I have just retired after 57yrs nursing. I loved my profession. I know how many changes I saw in the medical world. Love your work.
Hospitals not stadiums
Good on you Irene! I trained at PAH and finished in 1984! Not quite as long as you. Lots of people ask when am I retiring, they don’t realise that I would still want to be working. I am tiring out, but I love being a nurse! Clearly you feel the same!🥰🙏🥂
Go Irene. The community are lucky to have your wisdom and extensive clinical acumen. Teach those young midwives well. They need the extra that university does not offer
Thanks Jan and Bob. So many different roles. People you work with make it worthwhile.
An amazing lady and midwife. An incredible wealth of experience and knowledge xxx
Wow, 60 yrs of nursing 💕💐
Wow congratulations. What a dedicated career that is
Irene Szogi you are a legend
What a great story and clearly a wonderful lady! Congratulations 🎉
Well done. What great achievements.
Irene Szogi! You are the most amazing inspiring midwife 😍 You are the queen 🫅
Irene - I remember your change to go to CFDT …you just kept going and look what was established! Congratulations.👏
A very big congratulations Irene! It is a pleasure to work with you.
Such a lovely lady and always such a pleasure to work with ⭐️
CONGRATULATIONS Irene! You were an amazing midwife when I worked with you, and an equally amazing person. ❤️
Thank you Irene for your wisdom and kindness, always meeting women and families where they are at 😌
Well done Irene. That’s certainly an achievement. You would have seen so many changes. I have fond memories way back to our training days with you and then working with you in your different roles. You have certainly been on a journey and impacted many. Best wishes ❤️🌹
Amazing! Congratulations, what a career! 💕🎊
Congratulations Irene. A fine career and so much to be proud of. A great colleague
Wonderful Irene. Just wonderful. You would have seen and been involved with so much
What an achievement Irene! Was always a privilege working with you!!
You look amazing! 60yrs you don’t even look 60 Congratulations what a career 🩷
So inspiring! 🌟 Congratulations Irene 🫶🏾
Wooohooo IRENE!!!! I've always admired your intelligence, grace, kindness and dedication to your work. A well deserved shout-out! Congratulations!!! 🥳❤️👏🍾
We had a yarn with 87-year-old pals Pat and Di this week, when they dropped off hundreds of hand-knitted beanies for newborn babies at RBWH.
The duo have been knitting for little ones born at the hospital for 10 years, since Pat's daughter Helen suggested she get involved to keep herself busy.
"Helen worked here as a nurse, and one day she posted me a pattern and said I should make beanies for the babies," Pat said.
"I photocopied the pattern and gave it to Di, and then we started giving it to our friends with a ball of wool and some needles, so they had no excuse not to start."
Pat and Di currently have three friends that knit with them, estimating they have knitted approximately 8000 beanies for little patients over the years.
"I'm a big Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Lions fan, but I knit all the team colours for the parents who barrack for other teams - I'm told the fathers love picking these ones," Di said. 🧶
Two beautiful ladies
You are so special thankyou so much ❤️
Whenever I sit to watch tv I have my knitting with me, beanies for babies, toddlers, trauma teddies, slipper b oots. Knitting is very peaceful for me v and at 91 keeps the fingers supple and free from aches and pains. The articles are so satisfying to do and love doing them.
What a beautiful act of kindness. 💙 Thank you to Pat, Di and everyone involved for bringing comfort and warmth to so many newborns and their families. Your generosity is truly appreciated. 👏
Made from the heart ♥️♥️
We love carefully choosing the beanies before the babies arrive! I often show the parents a collection and let them choose. Thank you so much from all of the RBWH midwives 😘😘🥰
Good on you Ladies 😘
Well done you beautiful ladies and many others. 💕
Amazing ladies, such a great cause . I donate crochet knee rugs for Aged Care Homes , & staff are so apreciative to have them.
Well done lady's on your knitting
My little girl was born at RBWH two months ago, I love her little beanie that she got when she was born 💗
My auntie is a mid wife at RBWH she has brought so many babies into the world GOD BLRSS YOUSE
That's so heartwarming 🤗
AWESOME
What wonderful work Ladies. You should be blessed for your kindness ❤️
Beautiful work ladies
Congratulations for your commitment and loving work 💜👏⚘️
Great effort ladies!😊
My daughter has one of those. Great job ladies!
Congratulations on your hard work. I would be honoured to help out if I could and could you please include the ply of the wool. Thank you 😊 💓 ☺️
All made with love…thank you.
❤️
Lucy and Roisin are two of our Medical Imaging Assistants working in Metro North as they complete their Nuclear Medicine studies, and some of our 10,000 new health workers across QLD. 💫
While they are in the first year of their degrees, the students spend two days on the job learning from experts and working with patients.
Eighteen year old Roisin always had an interest in physics and knew that she wanted to work in this area after meeting someone in the field at a careers day.
“I also loved healthcare - it seemed like the natural fit for me, and I would like to try stay at RBWH when I finish my study because the environment is great,” Roisin said.
Lucy agreed that the hands-on training with her degree made it a natural choice.
“I think it’s such a niche profession and it has a critical shortage of staff - but PET is growing and a lot of people are in need of those scans, so it’s great to contribute to that,” Lucy added.
Congratulations on choosing a great career path
Good
Good on you both. Nuclear Medicine is very important. As are PET scans. They can be life saving. Trust me, I know. I’m a survivor.
Ella Ainsworth
"I was born in Murgon, near Gympie and lived on my father's farm. Working with my father, he had subsequently bought me the farm across the road which became available, so I was a land owner at 17. We did dairy farming mainly; the country itself grew enough grass to milk cows. However, the lovely lady I married wasn't a farmer's wife, she was very intelligent and a talented pianist. So, we sold up and I got into pushing pens after milking cows, I adapted well and got my degree in economics and became an accountant. To my younger self, I'd say go for it again, you did some foolish things but overall, I'm fairly proud of what I have achieved."
💭 Monday Mantra, Bill, RBWH Ward 9A South Patient
Thanks for sharing Bill. Be proud mate
G'day from the South Burnett 👋
Well done Bill.
You’re a bloody legend Bill. Kids these days should take more inspiration from people like you. Nothing better than growing up in the bush.
Great memories of being your page boy at your wedding Bill
Get well soon bill
9a south is the ward I was in after icu after my bike accident the staff there are awesome
Thats a great life. Well done adapting to two different worlds. True grit.
Thinking of you ❤️
Beautiful life!!
On yah Bill 🥰
Thank you for humanising your patients 💝 Through necessity, habit and bureaucracy we patients become numbers in the system but it is only by really seeing each of us as autonomous, fully-formed real people that we can create a better system together that protects and values both patients and healthcare staff <3
So you should be
He looks like a happy chap, love these stories!!
Well done 👏👏 and you're still smiling 😃
Good on I fella
Thankyou for your beaut story. Bill. I'm wishing for you to get well . Xxx
So proud to say seen this
You are in the best ward at the hospital the crew on 9a south are wonderful our family has spent a lot of time in that ward
Beautiful words Pa
This is lovely Pa! We are all so proud of you and love you a lot ❤️
Fantastic story of life like all our families together 👍
You did well.
So proud of my big brother. Love you Bill.
Over the last two decades, the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer (QCGC) based at the RBWH has helped thousands of women, ranking in the top 10 worldwide for gynaecological research centres.
Director of Research at QCGC Dr Andreas was recently appointed as President Elect for the International Gynaecologic Cancer Society 2028-2030 term and says that the affiliation with a global organisation will only strengthen the opportunities for research and collaboration at RBWH.
"We [QCGC] have contributed to very significant findings that led to significantly improved patient outcomes," he said.
"Patients benefit from research in terms of quality of life, better survival rates, pregnancy rates and fertility rates but we are also saving Queensland Health and taxpayers money through improving efficiency of care."
Clinical Lead at QCGC Dr Andrea mirrored similar sentiments in terms of research at RBWH.
"I think research is firstly crucial to the ongoing service and secondly very beneficial to the patients - but it has also put us on the map worldwide because we have lots of output, we have a big centre and big services," she said.
👏 A big #ShoutoutSaturday to Dr Andreas on his new title and the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer team for their ongoing hard work to improve patient outcomes.
One of the thousands of women who has benefited from the extraordinary work of Professor Andreas Obermair and the QCGC team is me. Professor Obermair performed my radical hysterectomy at the RBWH on 16 March 2022 after my Stage 4b cancer diagnosis. His expertise helped save my life & enabled me to come home to my children. Congratulations on this incredibly well-deserved appointment, Professor Obermair, & thank you to the entire QCGC team for the work you continue to do for women & families like mine. 💚
Congrats to Dr Obermair. And to Dr Andy, you are an absolute legend!
Well done This state is very proud of both of you
Congratulations Professor Obermair. Thank you for all that you do. Well deserved!
Congratulations and well done Professor Obermair
This wonderful man saved my life and I will be eternally grateful!
Congratulations Dr. Obermair !
Congratulations Professor Obermair, I believe you saved my life 💙
Congratulations professor Obermair without you and your team I wouldn’t be here today so many accolades to you👏👏👏💖
Congratulations Andreas! An outstanding achievement and so richly deserved.
Bravo Professor Obermair. What an outstanding, yet well deserved achievement. How lucky we are in Brisbane and all Australia to have your expertise.
Awesome work. ❤️❤️👏👏
Well done Prof Obermair!
Amazing man. Congratulations 🎊 👏
Congratulations Andreas
Congratulations Andreas. A timely accolade and responsibility.
Congratulations Prof Obermair - well deserved!
‘Big Congratulations’ dear amazing Dr Obermair! 💙💙💙👍👍👍
Congratulations Dr Obermair! 👏
Congratulations 🎉
👏👏👏👏💯💯💯
Congratulations and well done Dr Obermair x
Congratulations Dr Obermair! 👏
I worked in the women's hospital as a student nurse. Women go through some awful challenges for want of a more appropriate word.
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