The Royal Melbourne Hospital

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The Royal Melbourne Hospital

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We monitor this page Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, excluding public holidays and weekends. For immediate enquiries, please call our Switchboard on 03 9342 7000. We encourage feedback and engagement on our social media channels, and as such we expect community members to treat each other with respect and courtesy. These standards apply to inter

action within all Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) social media channels. By interacting on the RMH’s social media channels you understand and agree the RMH has ultimate control over all its online services. The RMH may edit, remove or exercise its discretion not to publish your contribution for legal, editorial or operational reasons including if the RMH considers it to be:

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10/08/2026

The winter months have set in and we want to remind you that the flu is not like the common cold. 🤧

The flu is a highly contagious virus that changes from year to year, which is why it’s so important to get vaccinated annually.

Getting vaccinated reduces your chances of contracting the virus and also lessens the severity of symptoms such as fever, cough, chills, body aches and fatigue.

Hear from the RMH’s Chief Medical Officer and infectious disease physician, Dr Irani Thevarajan, about how getting vaccinated helps keep the wider community safe, too.

🔗 Visit the Better Health Channel for more information: https://f.mtr.cool/bucuwcoftd

07/08/2026

🏥 A/Prof Mark Putland, Director of Emergency Medicine at the RMH, has seen a concerning amount of people admitted to the emergency department recently with peptide-related complications.

Many patients had turned to social media for medical advice, where the use of unprescribed peptides is trending.

But Dr Mark warns against using medications found online as they likely have not undergone testing to confirm its safety or effectiveness.

He says unprescribed peptides can lead to “very distressing symptoms” including vomiting, chest and abdominal pain, dehydration, heart problems, pancreatitis and more.

“Peptides will form part of our future medication armamentarium but we need to test and work out which ones are safe,” Dr Mark says.

"We have a pharmaceutical system in Australia that we trust because it's regulated and enforced well."

❗ It is always best to consult your GP or local pharmacist before starting new medications.

Dr Mark recently sat down with 60 Minutes and The Age to discuss the risks associated with using unregulated and unprescribed peptides.

You can watch the 60 Minutes segment here: https://f.mtr.cool/tfmnwialir

06/08/2026

Three years ago, Mark was rushed to the RMH due to a burst aneurysm, which led to a hemorrhagic stroke. 🧠❤️‍🩹

Mark spent seven months in our rehabilitation ward to regain his strength and motor skills, including how to walk, with the support of his partner Angelina, sister Susan and his dedicated care team.

We caught up with Mark for National Stroke Week this week to hear about his progress. He also thanked the many RMH teams and people involved in his care.

“I’d like to call out the superb support you get from the RMH and professionals like Gabby and Andrea, which without them, my recovery journey would be a lot different,” he says.

Physiotherapist Andrea says the key to timely stroke care is to “remember to think FAST”.

FAST stands for:

😕 Face drooped?

✋︎ Arms can’t be raised?

🗣 Speech slurred or confused?

⏳ Time is critical! Call 000.

“If you notice any troubles with any of those, we encourage you to go to hospital to get the right care as early as possible,” Andrea says.

The RMH is proud to be home to an internationally-recognised centre for world-class neurology and stroke care, which includes our Mobile Stroke Unit, expert doctors, allied health specialists and stroke nurse specialists.

Find out more about the Neurology and Stroke service: https://f.mtr.cool/yjoonvjyzu

04/08/2026

We are honoured to share Darren ‘Muddy' Laycock’s story – celebrating his life and legacy.

Darren was a motor mechanic and a ‘dinky-di bloke’ who loved football, speedway racing, camping, and fishing.

His wife Gail says he “used to eat, sleep and breathe football”, which is where his nickname Muddy came from.

“He would be the only player, even on a dry day, that would manage to come off the field with mud on him,” she says.

Darren was a week shy of his 56th birthday when he collapsed at home as a result of a rare brain condition called arteriovenous malformation. Sadly, Darren would not regain consciousness.

Darren was also registered as an organ donor, a fact his family and wife, Gail, say reflects his lovable, kind and generous personality.

Darren’s gift went on to transform the lives of four people, including a person who was able to regain their sight.

“To know that he was still giving after he passed, as he did when he was alive… It’s something pretty special,” Gail says.

“Now I urge people like there’s no tomorrow to register and talk to your family.”

We pay tribute to Darren and his family, as well as all organ and tissue donors and their families who choose to give the gift of life.

Vale Darren ❤️

Read more about Darren and Gail’s story: https://f.mtr.cool/uvfmcnbgbn

31/07/2026

A cancer diagnosis changed Natasha’s life in an instant.

“Hearing the words 'you have cancer' was terrifying," Natasha recalls.

But during the hardest chapter of her life, she found more than treatment at the Royal Melbourne Hospital – she found compassion, kindness and a team who felt like family. 💙

After months of treatment, Natasha is incredibly now living cancer free, returning to the RMH as an ambassador for Dry July.

The campaign supports patient-focused projects and equipment to help enhance care at the RMH, including new exercise and medical equipment and patient care packs.

"As someone who experienced that support firsthand, I know how much it matters,” Natasha says.

“Every donation, no matter the size, can make a genuine difference."

Every day, many people just like Natasha begin a cancer journey they never expected. But by supporting our Dry July campaign, you help make that journey a little easier – through better care, comfort and support services.

Support the RMH Foundation today at the link in our bio.

28/07/2026

Meet the RMH’s Organ Donation Team, a dedicated team of Nurse Donation and Medical Donation Specialists who support patients, families and healthcare teams through the organ and tissue donation process.

Sadly, not every patient admitted to hospital survives. For some families, organ and tissue donation can provide an opportunity for hope and meaning during an incredibly difficult time, helping others receive life-saving and life-changing transplants.

Donation Specialist Nurse Coordinator Michael says the team is continually motivated by the “extraordinary generosity of donor families.”

“Despite immense grief, those families think of others and choose to give the gift of life. It takes a whole village to make donation possible, and we are proud to be part of that journey during DonateLife Week and every week.”

In 2025, 50 generous families said “yes” to organ and tissue donation, resulting in 86 people receiving a life-saving organ transplant.

This DonateLife Week, the Organ Donation team encourages you to learn more about the impacts of organ donation and how you can register to be an organ donor.

🔗 Learn more: https://f.mtr.cool/zsmjxkdqvd

26/07/2026

Five years ago, Julia walked through the doors of the RMH as a graduate nurse. She hasn't looked back since.

For Julia, it's the team's dedication that keeps her going: "The clinical assistants, the cleaners, the food staff, the doctors, the nurses, the educators and allied health staff, everyone is committed to providing the best possible care for the patient."

Feeling inspired? The RMH ICU is hosting an Open Night so you can speak with current staff about education and mentorship opportunities to step into critical care nursing roles.

📅 5-6:30 pm Tuesday 4 August 2026
📍 RMH Parkville, ICU Executive Offices, Level 5B

🔗 Register now: https://f.mtr.cool/rpfmdrletq

23/07/2026

During NAIDOC Week, our First Nations Health Unit recognised the teams across the Royal Melbourne Hospital who are making it a safer, more welcoming place for First Nations patients and their families.

Our respiratory ward 6SE was recognised with a NAIDOC Spotlight Award for exemplifying the very best of person-centred nursing whilst providing compassionate care, including culturally safe end-of-life care.

Interim Nurse Unit Manager for 6SE, Clare, says they are always working to create a welcoming and safe space for First Nations people.

“We aim to create culturally safe spaces for our patients and families so that they don’t delay their care or treatment,” she says.

Our clinical staff collaborate with our First Nations Health Unit to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families across the hospital.

Learn more about the First Nations Health Unit: https://f.mtr.cool/ngobveydlp

Artwork: Walk Together by Dixon Patten, Gunnai and Yorta Yorta, Bayila Creative

22/07/2026

During NAIDOC Week, our First Nations Health Unit recognised the teams across the Royal Melbourne Hospital who are making it a safer, more welcoming place for First Nations patients and their families.

6 South West, one of our Kidney Care wards, was awarded a NAIDOC Spotlight award for their exceptional care and unwavering support for our First Nations patients.

Acting Nurse Unit Manager Aki reflects that being respectful of all cultures, people and backgrounds is part of their everyday practice to provide great care.

“At the RMH, we work collaboratively to achieve the same goals and that's getting patients well, and getting them home safe.”

Artwork: Walk Together by Dixon Patten, Gunnai and Yorta Yorta, Bayila Creative

19/07/2026

If you’re a nurse thinking about a career in intensive care, come along to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Open night on Tuesday 4 August to speak with current staff about education and mentorship opportunities to step into critical care nursing roles.

This February 2027, the RMH is offering several programs for nurses to grow their career:

🎓 Graduate Certificate (with Deakin University)
🩹 Registered nurse Introduction to Specialty Education
🏥 Bridging and Refresher programs, for Certified Critical Care Registered nurses to develop their skills

🔗 To register, visit: https://f.mtr.cool/vlnftckvlr

Address

300 Grattan Street
Parkville, VIC
3052

Telephone

+61393427000

Website

https://www.thermh.org.au/

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