The Queensland Government’s $5.4 million upgrades to the near-century old Gayndah Hospital are now complete, ensuring the hospital will continue to meet the needs of the community for many years to come
Minister Cameron Dick, representing Health Minister Steven Miles, was on hand to declare the new and upgraded facilities open, along with members of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service and the local community.
Mr Dick said the upgrades had significantly modernised the facility, while retaining its original character.
“Investment in maintaining and renewing our rural and regional hospital and health facilities is critical to ensuring we’re providing the best possible health care to our communities,” he said.
“This is a significant investment in the future of Gayndah, and the hospital can now provide better, safer and more efficient services to its patients.
“The hospital has served its community very well for 98 years, and this important refurbishment work will enable it to continue providing great-quality care for years to come.
“The upgrade works include the refurbishment of the nurses’ station, functional design changes to ward areas, improvements to ambulance access, upgrading disability access, replacing the roof, removing asbestos from the facility, interior and exterior painting and an upgrade to the kitchen to meet current food safety standards.
“Importantly, new telehealth facilities will provide greater opportunities to provide care closer to home for the wider community.
“The Palaszczuk Government will always invest in health, and we will always invest in our regions through projects like this that serve the community and create jobs. This project alone created more than 140 onsite jobs over 12 months, and I congratulate all of the workers and hospital staff involved.”
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Board Chair Peta Jamieson said the upgrades to Gayndah Hospital and other rural facilities were key parts of its strategic plan, Care Comes First … Through Patients’ Eyes.
“At Gayndah, it was important to us that we modernised and upgraded the hospital’s facilities while retaining its historical character and beautiful heritage design.
“Our staff and contractors have done a fantastic job of keeping a balance between respecting the past and building for the future.
“I’d like to thank the team at Gayndah Hospital for doing such an excellent job of maintaining service continuity throughout the disruption of the works. Projects like this require a great deal of detailed planning, and patients’ needs have been prioritised throughout.
“On behalf of the Board, I also wish to thank the Gayndah community for their patience as we undertook this work at the hospital which has caused disruption to how the facility normally operates. Their support for the work has been outstanding and we hope they are pleased with the results.”
Gayndah Hospital Director of Nursing Sue Coward said it was fantastic to see the work complete and staff were looking forward to caring for their patients in a modernised facility.
“The refurbishment creates a much better environment for our staff to work in, and one that is also safer for our patients and ensures they receive the best care possible,” Ms Coward said.
“Patient safety will also be improved through installing new air conditioning, levelling out the historic verandah to reduce fall risks, improving security at the front of the building and replacing the floor covering through the inside of the building.
“I know the Gayndah community will benefit greatly from these improvements, and it’s a landmark day for the hospital and whole town.”
