Opened in 1958[1][2] as the Perth Chest Hospital and later named in honour of Sir Charles Gairdner, governor of Western Australia from 1951 to 1963, it is part of the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre (QEII MC).

[3] All clinical specialities are provided, with the exception of complex burns, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology and major trauma.

Thomas Street provides a route to Subiaco from Nedlands along the western border of King's Park.

The site chosen for the construction of the new Perth Chest Hospital encompassed a largely undeveloped region of land leased to the University of Western Australia.

The nurses quarters accommodated staff and trainees until the Anstey House was built were residential services were available.

[5] Lion's Eye Institute (1998) is a three-storey building along the western perimeter of a courtyard around the entrance to SCGH.

[1] In 1910, the State Government purchased the land, and in 1953 30 hectares (75 acres) were assigned to the development of a medical centre.

As part of the hospital's teaching core, UWA students and alumni contribute to research and clinical organisations at SCGH.

Students enrolled in medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences learn at the UWA health campus, where they have access to medical libraries.

Students of dentistry and oral healthcare learn and train on the UWA health care campus at QEII MC, closely associated with SCGH.

During the first 40 years of operation, research contributions included that of Nobel Prize winner Barry Marshall for his recognition that stomach ulcers are not caused by stress, but rather bacteria.

SCGH has the Australian Inherited Retinal Disease Registry and DNA Bank (AIRDR) on-site.

[11] AIRDR analyses the DNA of consenting donors from Australia to understand the cause of inherited retinal disease.

The AIRDR resource is available to researchers pursuing an interest in the varying causes of inherited retinal disease.

When funding is allocated, preference is given to projects and clinical trials that have the highest potential to improve the outcome for patients and the future of healthcare.

[14] SCGH provides comprehensive care in all clinical specialities except for burns, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology on top of social work services.

[9] SCGH is home to many histopathology subspecialty groups that practice on-site, including dermatopathology, gastrointestinal, pancreatobiliary, hepatopathology and respiratory pathology.

The scholarships are awarded based on areas of high clinical need and requirements in the current work force.

Volunteer opportunities include: buggy service, driving a buggy around QEIIMC delivering patients from the car park to hospital departments; auxiliary positions, such as operating a lolly trolley and a library trolley that goes around the wards; SolarisCare, which is open to qualified therapists; and the voluntary transport service that drives patients to and from hospital appointments.

[25] The Charlies Social Club serves as a community and way for staff, volunteers and students at SCGH to connect.

Weekly health and fitness activities and events are available, along with member benefits including discounts at selected stores and services.

The strike resulted in the cancellation of 21 scheduled elective surgeries, and also affected Allied Health outpatient services.