The Palaszczuk Government has launched planning for the expansion of the Mackay Base Hospital and the redevelopments of the Bowen and Moranbah hospitals to strengthen public healthcare in the Mackay region.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the projects would ensure the hospitals continue to meet the current and future health needs of the communities in these regions, and would deliver various benefits for local communities.
“The business cases will explore the potential scope for each project, which will deliver benefits such as meeting growing demand for services, alleviating pressure from other nearby hospital services and refurbishing aging assets to deliver improved models of care,” Mr Miles said.
“Today’s announcement is another example of the Palaszczuk Government growing our health system to meet demand, while also upgrading and refurbishing existing hospitals to ensure local communities are provided with the best care possible from modern contemporary facilities”.
Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert welcomed the announcement adding the redevelopment of these hospitals would deliver even greater access to health care for locals.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering free, world-class health care to Queenslanders no matter where they live,” Ms Gilbert said.
“These business cases will explore the current and future health needs of the community to ensure what we deliver is right for the community.
“The Mackay Base Hospital expansion will provide more inpatient beds, additional surgery capacity, an expansion of emergency department services, and increased capacity for new and existing services.
“The Bowen Hospital redevelopment will aim to increase the self-sufficiency of the hospital to ease pressure on Mackay Base Hospital, delivering new or refurbished facilities at the site.
“The Moranbah Hospital redevelopment will deliver greater flexibility in services provided and better equip the hospital to respond to emergency situations, such as the May 2020 coal mining incident.”
The Palaszczuk Government is committing funding of $1.5 million for the preliminary business case for the Mackay Base Hospital expansion, $700,000 for the preliminary business case for the Bowen Hospital redevelopment, and $500,000 for a combined preliminary and detailed business case for the Moranbah Hospital redevelopment.
Other projects recently delivered in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service include:
- Bowen Community Health Dental Clinic
- Bowen Hospital Emergency Department upgrade
- Proserpine Hospital Emergency and Outpatients upgrade
- Mackay Step Up Step Down residential mental health facility
- Clermont Multi-Purpose Health Service (MPHS) consolidation
Deputy Premier Miles said the Sarina Hospital redevelopment was also progressing well.
“The Sarina Hospital redevelopment will deliver a new purpose-built hospital for the community, with the proposed location currently being finalised before a detailed masterplan is developed, followed by construction commencing in 2021,” Deputy Premier Miles said.
“This new facility will mean less people will have to travel to Mackay Base Hospital to receive treatment, with construction expected to be complete in 2022.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to continually planning for and delivering improved hospital and health services for regional and rural Queensland so that people in these communities can access the health care they need, where they need it.”
