Mater Private Hospital Mackay is investing $7.3 million to refurbish and expand its perioperative theatres to meet the growing health needs of the community.
The investment will allow a sixth perioperative theatre to be added to the hospital’s suite of theatres, where more than 12,000 procedures are performed each year.
The project will also include refurbishment of the existing theatre shell to support the expansion, a redesign of the pre-operative, recovery and patient amenity zones and the creation of new sterile storage areas.
Mater Private Hospital Mackay Executive Officer Elizabeth Thomas said the expansion was a proactive step to meet the future needs of the community.
“Mater Private Hospital Mackay’s five current perioperative theatres are utilised by 34 doctors of varying specialties,” Ms Thomas said.
“Currently more than 12,000 procedures are undertaken in our theatres each year and significantly more are projected following the addition of a sixth
theatre,” Ms Thomas said.
“Mater Private Hospital Mackay has continued to grow since the merger of all
Mater hospitals and services in Queensland in July 2020 – creating the state’s largest not-for-profit healthcare provider.
“The merger has allowed our facility to expand services to complement our most common procedures in orthopaedics, gynaecology, ear nose and throat and general surgery with the introduction of perioperative robots and significant infrastructure works such as the perioperative theatre expansion.
“Mater has been caring for the people of Mackay since 1927 and the current hospital was commissioned in 2003. As a trusted provider of healthcare across Queensland, Mater strives to continue being a leader in the development and delivery of services for our patients, and we are proud to be expanding our presence in Mackay.”
Mater Private Hospital Mackay Perioperative Services Manager Hazel Douglas said the additional theatre and improved layout would be of benefit to both staff and patients.
“Mackay and the surrounding regions are growing, and Mater’s capabilities are growing with them; we are excited to be expanding our perioperative theatre capacity ahead of projected growth in the district,” Hazel said.
“This is an opportunity to ensure we have the capacity to treat people here in the region, rather than patients having to seek support further afield in Townsville or Brisbane.
“Investments in robotics locally have also greatly improved capabilities to ensure the breadth of services locally continues to grow to support our community and allow them to be treated locally.”
Work is expected to commence next year and is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.
