Australia’s largest private hospitals operator has announced plans to provide healthcare services in Townsville for the first time, with a surgical centre focused on short-stay treatment and day surgery.
Ramsay Health Care will lodge a development application for the facility, which will initially include four operating theatres, a procedure room and 24 inpatient beds.
Scheduled to be operational in 2024, the proposed Ramsay Surgical Centre will be built on an 8,000-square-metre site on Charters Towers Road.
“Ramsay Health Care is excited to be entering the Townsville market for the first time with this new standalone surgical centre that will allow locals to access high-quality healthcare outside the traditional hospital setting,” the global group’s Australia CEO Carmel Monaghan said.
Ramsay plans to bring in some of Queensland’s leading doctors and provide them with advanced technology to ensure the best possible care for patients.
“By focusing on short stay and day surgery we can offer a new alternative for privately-insured patients and an affordable option for self-insured patients,” Ms Monaghan said.
The centre will offer specialities including orthopaedics, general surgery, endoscopy, gynaecology, and ear, nose and throat (ENT).
“Importantly, it will also provide access to Ramsay Health Plus, our outpatient allied health service which offers personalised pre- and post-operative care, as well as allied health services for the Townsville community,” Ms Monaghan said.
“This allows us to provide patients the full services support they need while recovering in comfort in their own homes.”
The project will add to Ramsay’s presence in North Queensland, where it already has a private hospital, day surgery and mental health clinic, all based in Cairns.
The group’s partnerships with universities and vocational education provider TAFE Queensland will allow the new hospital to hire and develop top-class healthcare workers.
“The proposed development has received strong support from local surgeons and anaesthetists and will result in more jobs for healthcare workers in the region, including nurses and administration workers,” Ms Monaghan said.
