Dr Laurence “Ned” Kelley

An unexpected beginning

When Dr Laurence “Ned” Kelley stepped in to oversee St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital’s first accreditation survey in 1994, he expected it to be a temporary responsibility.

Instead, it became the beginning of nearly two decades of leadership that helped shape the Hospital’s future.

As Medical Director, Board member and advocate for quality improvement, Dr Kelley played a pivotal role during a period of remarkable growth. He helped guide St Andrew’s from a traditional regional private hospital into a sophisticated healthcare provider with intensive care, advanced cancer services and nationally recognised accreditation standards.

Building a culture of quality

A strong believer in accountability and continuous improvement, Dr Kelley championed accreditation at a time when quality standards were becoming increasingly important across Australian healthcare.

Working alongside clinical and executive leaders, he helped embed these principles into everyday practice, ensuring that high standards of patient care remained central to the Hospital’s mission.

During Dr Kelley’s tenure, St Andrew’s expanded significantly, introducing new specialist services and responding to the growing healthcare needs of the region.

Among the many developments he witnessed, the growth of cancer services stood out as one of the Hospital’s greatest achievements. What began as a regional private hospital evolved into a major centre for oncology care, improving access to treatment for patients across the Darling Downs and beyond.

A lasting legacy

When Dr Kelley retired as Medical Director in 2013, he left behind a very different hospital from the one he had joined nearly twenty years earlier.

His legacy is not found in any single building or program, but in the culture of quality, professionalism and patient care he helped foster. Through steady leadership during times of growth, change and challenge, Dr Ned Kelley played an important role in shaping the modern St Andrew’s Hospital.