Although the modern Liverpool Hospital opened on 1 July 1958, there were no maternity services for another year. It was a grand occasion when McGirr House, named after a former NSW Premier and local member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, was opened on 23 May 1959. The Health Minister, W F Sheehan, QC, opened the unit in the presence of the former Governor General of Australia, Sir William McKell and before a guard of honour from all local schools, the Junior Red Cross and School Cadets.

Instead of occupying new prefabricated aluminium buildings like the general hospital, McGirr House was two converted male dormitories left from the previous State Hospital. Because of steriliser problems, the first admissions and deliveries did not occur until 30 June 1959. Sister Colleen Barlow delivered the first two babies. She was locally born and raised, trained in general nursing at Hornsby and midwifery at the Royal Hospital for Women, then at Paddington. Sr Barlow remained in the unit for the remainder of her career, subsequently becoming the Labour Ward charge sister and finally the Maternity Nurse Unit Manager. Her skills and devotion were key factors in Liverpool achieving a high proportion of normal deliveries, Sydney's lowest Caesarean section rate and great patient satisfaction.

The pre 1994 maternity service provided a Level 5 Obstetric Service and a Level 2 Neonatal Service (8 cots). In the first 12 months, 1013 babies were delivered in the 31 bed unit. Numbers soon built up to 1442 in 1962-3 and remained under 1700 until 1978. In the next two years, the 2000 mark was passed and exceeded every year until McGirr House closed. A total of 2396 deliveries occurred in 1988. With the opening of the Caroline Chisholm Centre in 1994 and the change to a full level 6 unit with neonatal intensive care, the number of deliveries soon passed 3000.

The medical staff in 1959 consisted of consultants Dr R Syred and Dr G Parkin, Honorary Obstetricians, Drs D Stump and D Cassidy and Associated Obstetrician W De Launey. Dr A Baccarini was the Honorary Gynaecologist and remained on the staff until his retirement in 1991. Dr R Hyslop was appointed as an Honorary Obstetrician in May 1963 continuing on the staff for 18 years as a part time staff member until 1997. Because of his long service to the area, the midwives invited him to perform the first delivery, a successful assisted vaginal breech delivery of a primiparous women, on 7 February 1994 in the new Caroline Chisholm Centre for Women and Babies.

The Caroline Chisholm Centre for Women and Babies was opened by Premier John Fahey in 1994 and houses a Level 6 Obstetrics and Gynaecology service, Level 5Neonatal service and Level 4 Paediatric service. The facility includes 12 birthing rooms, a 30 bed postnatal ward, a 16 bed antenatal and 14 bed gynaecology ward, along with 25 bed paediatric ward.

Teaching has always had a significant place at Liverpool. On 28 July 1960, the Nurses Registration Board recognised McGirr House for midwifery training. Midwifery students from various Universities continue to gain practical experience in the new unit. In 1967, Dr K McGarrity, a senior specialist at the Crown Street Women's Hospital suggested seconding in registrars from the large inner city teaching institutions to peripheral Liverpool District Hospital, to broaden their experience.

In 1968, Dr P Hammill became the first pioneer seconded registrar. He enjoyed his stay so much that he returned to the area on the completion of his training in the UK and was appointed to the staff on 29 September 1976. He is now the most Senior Visiting Medical Officer.

Return to top