[2] The hospital is one of two major adult trauma centers in Victoria and houses the largest intensive care unit in Australia.

[4] The "Hospital by the Yarra", founded in 1871, was named after Prince Alfred after he was shot in an unsuccessful assassination attempt while on a royal visit to Australia.

In 1957, The Alfred was the first hospital in Australia to place a patient on cardiopulmonary bypass to treat complex cardiac lesions.

[citation needed] The Alfred Hospital, administered by the Metropolitan Health Service Alfred Health, offers medical services including cancer treatment, asthma management, psychiatry, allergy care, cardiology, and neurosurgery.

The Alfred Hospital hosts both adult heart and lung transplantation services as well as a pediatric lung transplantation service.