As the new H Block prepares to open its doors at Gold Coast University Hospital, Dr Benjamin Chen is focused on what matters most: delivering thoughtful, person-centred care in an environment designed to support it. For Dr Chen, who first joined Gold Coast Health nearly two decades ago, it’s a meaningful step forward, grounded in experience caring for some of the community’s most complex patients.
How did your journey into medicine begin?
Like a lot of clinicians, I was drawn by the opportunity to be involved in the life of another person in need. As a rehabilitation physician, I’ve had the privilege to work with some of the most complex patients in the hospital, and over time, I gravitated towards the care of older persons as my clinical work and professional interest.
You’ve been with Gold Coast Health for quite some time – what’s kept you here?
Gold Coast Health was actually my first ‘adult job’ after finishing training. I’ve had the opportunity to work early in my career in Carrara Health Centre, where many older patients were cared for. Being part of our patients’ life journey and being part of a team that is dedicated, professional and collegiate is what continues to motivate me. Our patients often don’t have a loud voice in the system, but their stories, their needs, and their quiet moments matter.
What led you to work with older adults?
At a human level, being there for older patients and their families in the moments of distress and often desperation. At a professional level, the complexities of their presentations are often challenging and require good teamwork to navigate. For example, a confused patient isn’t “difficult” – they might be in pain, frightened or disoriented. One needs to look closely, listen carefully, notice what’s changed and work with the patient, family and the multidisciplinary team. The attention to detail and the patience such work requires – I found that meaningful.
What personal experiences influence your clinical work?
My own parents are ageing, and their care needs are gradually increasing. I often wonder if I have got the life balance right…if I have been the best son I could be to them, and where I have fallen short. I see the same in the children of many patients who I look after – we share the same challenge to navigate the same stage in life; we have the same doubts, the same dilemma and sometimes even the same sense of guilt. It has taught me in my clinical work to be more accommodating, to be understanding of the choices people make to live their lives, to disagree respectfully and negotiate tactfully, and to act consistently with the values that we espouse.
What makes H Block unique?
H Block is the first time we’ve had a dedicated space for older adults within our tertiary hospital. For years, we’ve cared for this cohort in shared or general spaces, but now we have a purpose-built facility that recognises and respects the needs of older adults, including those living with dementia or behavioural and psychological symptoms. The environment itself supports better outcomes. It’s light-filled, quiet and calm, with a mix of single and double rooms, accessible gardens and subtle features like colour palettes and clear lines of sight that make a real difference.
What clinical services will operate from this building?
H Block brings together three distinct but connected services:
• Two Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Units for patients recovering from illness or injury.
• A Complex Management Unit (CMU) supporting individuals with layered psychosocial, disability or behavioural challenges.
• An Acute Cognitive Unit (ACU) designed specifically for patients living with dementia-related symptoms like agitation or aggression.
This structure allows us to deliver care that’s highly tailored, structured and person-centred.
What will H Block mean for the Gold Coast?
It sets a new benchmark for the care of older persons within the hospital setting. More than 433,000 Australians are currently living with dementia. That number is projected to almost double by 2054. This is the future of health care and we need to be ready. H Block is a tangible sign that Gold Coast Health is not just keeping up but leading the way in its approach to older adult care.
Learn more about H Block at gold Coast University Hospital and take a video tour of the new facility.
