News

Pride in Ramsay legacy

May 04, 2014

The Mildura Base Hospital's chief executive officer Dane Huxley says he is saddened by the death of the founder of Ramsay Health Care's founder, but proud of the legacy he leaves to future generations.

Ramsay Health Care chairman Paul Ramsay passed away in Bowral, on Thursday night after recently suffering a heart attack. This year he celebrated 50 years since opening his first private hospital in Sydney. He went on to establish Ramsay Health Care, which operates the Mildura Base Hospital. The company is the largest private hospital group in Australia and has become a global hospital group with 151 hospitals across the world, employing over 30,000 staff and treating over 1.4 million patients each year.

Mr Ramsay was Australia's ninth-richest man and the bulk of his estate is now to be transferred to the Paul Ramsay Foundation to be of "enduring benefit to the Australian community". The bequest represents what is believed to be the largest single act of charity in Australian history.

Mr Huxley said he was proud to call Mr Ramsay a friend and said he would be greatly missed by family, friends, colleagues, staff and doctors.

"Anyone who knew him throughout the world knew him as a true gentleman and a humble but proud Australian," Mr Huxley said.

"It doesn't surprise me at all that he wanted his estate to be used to continue to care for people and do good in the community – that was his basic philosophy in life," he said.

"He was a great Chairman and businessman, but an extraordinarily generous person."

Mr Huxley said under Mr Ramsay's guidance Ramsay Health Care had grown into an extremely successful company, but central to its operation was always the principles of integrity and caring.

"Paul was insistent on maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety, being an employer of choice and always operating our business according to 'The Ramsay Way' philosophy, which is People Caring for People," Mr Huxley said.

"We will continue to carry on that legacy."