Queensland Health Archives

Two Decades On: The Prince Charles Hospital Triple-Transplant Story That Defied the Odds

Did you know that 20 years ago, The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside became the site of a groundbreaking, complex triple-organ procedure that allowed a young lady, then only 24 years old, to go on and get married, become a mother and live a full life?

A Medical Milestone

transplant — *Photo Credit:* *Metro North Health*

In the winter of 2005, Lucinda Winnem underwent a massive operation at The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside to replace her heart, lungs, and liver. At only 24 years old, she became the first Australian woman to survive this specific triple transplant.

She suffered from cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that had severely damaged her lungs and liver, leaving her struggling to breathe. Doctors decided to replace her heart as well because transplanting the three organs together as a single block is safer and technically easier than doing them individually.

Because Lucinda’s original heart was not affected by the disease, the medical team was able to use it to save another person. This procedure is called a domino transplant. Lucinda explained that it felt humbling to receive such a huge gift from a donor, and she found comfort in knowing her own healthy heart went to help a stranger who was just as desperate for a second chance as she was.

Support Through the Storm

Lucinda had a strong support system during her recovery, led by her partner Damon Simpson. The couple met at a Gold Coast shopping centre in 2003 and connected immediately. Early in their relationship, Lucinda warned Damon that she would need a major transplant, but he stayed by her side. Damon stated that he knew they were meant to be together from the moment they met.

Just 16 weeks after the 12-hour surgery, the couple married in a stone chapel at Mt Nathan.

Three of the specialists who managed her care—surgeon John Dunning and physicians Peter Hopkins and Keith McNeil—were among the guests. Lucinda said having the men who helped save her life present at her wedding made the day a celebration of life as well as marriage. Dr McNeil noted that seeing patients reach such happy milestones was an indescribable feeling for the medical team.

Creating a Family Against the Odds

For a long time, doctors told Lucinda and Damon that having children would be impossible. The couple even prepared to become foster parents because they believed they could not have a family of their own. However, about five years after her surgery, Lucinda spoke to Professor Peter Hopkins again about the possibility of pregnancy. This time, the medical team was more optimistic.

The process took careful planning. Lucinda had to switch her medications to ensure they were safe for a baby. Professor Hopkins said the transition was risky, but Lucinda followed her health plan strictly. After years of preparation, she gave birth to a son named Angus. Her doctors believe she is the only woman in the world with a heart-lung-liver transplant to successfully have a baby. Now living in the Gold Coast hinterland, Lucinda continues to maintain her health with a strict routine of exercise and medication, grateful for the normal life she fought so hard to secure.

Published Date 31-December-2025

The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion Moves Ahead in Chermside

Photo Credit: TyrantVirusz/Google Maps

A $360-million expansion is underway at The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside, with upgrades planned for Acute Services, emergency care, the operating theatre and other facilities, plus adult and paediatric care. Once complete, the facility will become Queensland’s second-largest paediatric health service.

The expansion is progressing under Queensland’s statewide hospital infrastructure program, despite a $6 billion cost blowout affecting the overall scheme.

hospital beds — *Photo Credit: Dale Olsen/Google Maps*

Project Details

As part of a $2.3-billion investment in Metro North Health infrastructure, the $360-million upgrade being delivered at TPCH includes a new Acute Services Building, 94 new beds for adult and paediatric patients, expanded emergency departments for both groups, new paediatric outpatient and operating theatre facilities, and additional green spaces.

Once complete, the facility will become Queensland’s second-largest paediatric health service.

The Acute Services Building is expected to open in late 2027. Hutchinson Builders was appointed as the managing contractor in June 2023.

Additional Infrastructure at the Chermside Site

Alongside the clinical expansion, a nine-storey car park is under construction at the TPCH campus. Once complete, the new facility will add 1,500 spaces, increasing the total number of multi-storey parking spots on site to 2,000. The structure is being built next to the existing car park on Main Road and is designed to support future growth at the hospital.

The Chermside campus also recently opened the $14-million Nujum Jawa Crisis Stabilisation Unit, addressing the growing number of mental health crisis presentations. Opened in September 2024, the modular building facility offers 24/7 support in a culturally informed, home-like setting, developed in collaboration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

The Prince Charles Hospital — *Photo Credit: Metro North Health*

With construction set to intensify through 2025 and the new Acute Services Building slated for completion in 2027, the Chermside community is expected to see sustained development activity at the TPCH site.

Statewide Comparisons and Broader Implications

Queensland’s Capacity Expansion Program (CEP), introduced first in 2022, aims to deliver 2,200 additional hospital beds across the state by 2028. The program includes three new hospitals in Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Coomera, a new Queensland Cancer Centre, and 11 hospital expansions, including the project in Chermside. Originally announced under a $9.78 billion plan, the estimated cost has since risen to $16 billion.

Despite the budget escalation, the State has confirmed it will continue with the projects. Health Minister Tim Nicholls reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the program, which includes the Chermside hospital expansion.

The TPCH expansion is one of 15 major projects under the CEP, which includes hospital developments and upgrades in Townsville, Ipswich, Logan, Cairns, Mackay, and Hervey Bay, among others. While several projects have faced delays and funding gaps, Nicholls indicated that an independent review was underway to determine funding reallocations and ensure project completion.

The Prince Charles Hospital expansion is delivering 94 of the planned 2,200 beds, making it a key component in the government’s plan to address healthcare demand in growing urban areas like Chermside.

While funding shortfalls remain across the broader program, the city officials have confirmed its intention to continue delivering the expansion projects to meet rising healthcare demand statewide.

Published 26-Mar-2025. Updated 1-Oct-2025

Patient in Chermside Recovers Well After 3D-Guided Aortic Surgery

Photo Credit: 3Dprint.com

A Queensland man is now recovering well in a Chermside hospital, with full movement in his arms and legs, after undergoing one of Australia’s most complex vascular operations where surgeons used a custom 3D-printed replica of his own artery to replace a life-threateningly swollen vessel.

The Path to Recovery

Nearly three weeks after the intensive procedure, the patient has been moved out of intensive care and has begun rehabilitation. Medical staff at The Prince Charles Hospital report that he has avoided any major complications, and his strong family support has been a positive factor during his recovery. While his progress is excellent, a second follow-up surgery is planned for later this year to replace the lower portion of his aorta, addressing all residual risk from his condition.

A Ticking Time Bomb

Before the surgery, the man, who is in his late fifties, was in a perilous state. His aorta, the body’s main artery, had swelled to approximately eight centimetres—about four times its normal size.

Vascular surgeon Dr Samantha Peden explained that the artery wall was stretched so thin that a fatal rupture was imminent. The situation was described as a “ticking time bomb.” This dangerous dilation continued despite a previous surgery in 2017, leading doctors to suspect an underlying connective tissue disorder.

A Blueprint for a Breakthrough

To prepare for the high-stakes procedure, the surgical team collaborated with engineers at the nearby Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI). The HBI team used the patient’s CT scans to create a life-sized, anatomically precise model of the damaged aorta.

The printing process took four days and used multiple materials to create a replica that mimicked the tactile feel of real tissue. This innovative model gave surgeons a hands-on understanding of the patient’s unique anatomy, allowing for meticulous planning that would not have been possible with standard 2D scans alone.

A High-Stakes Operation

The nine-hour surgery was a coordinated effort between vascular and cardiac specialists. To operate safely, they employed a technique called induced circulatory arrest, cooling the patient’s body and stopping his heart for a critical 20-minute window. Dr Peden noted that this method, while necessary, carried significant risks, including stroke or organ failure.

During this time, the surgical team removed the diseased section of the aorta and replaced it with a synthetic graft made of a flexible, waterproof fabric. This type of full aortic replacement is exceptionally complex and is performed only about six times a year at the hospital.

Published Date 22-July-2025