Site announced for new Toowoomba Hospital

The Palaszczuk Government has today announced Baillie Henderson in Toowoomba North as the preferred site for a new Toowoomba Hospital, investing $9 million for the detailed design phase.

As part of the government’s Governing from Toowoomba/Darling Downs program, Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for Health Steven Miles announced the preferred site and the extra $6 million commitment, in addition to the $3 million already invested.

“Toowoomba is a growing city and a key challenge is ensuring that infrastructure and services are keeping pace with this growth,” the Premier said.

“The doctors, nurses and healthcare staff at Toowoomba Hospital do a tremendous job caring for their community but we need to do the planning for a new hospital now so we’re ready to meet the community’s healthcare needs into the future.

“The detailed design, which is expected to be developed over the next 18 months, will include a full master plan of the site.”

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said today’s announcement was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to ensuring everyone in Queensland continues to have access to world-class healthcare, no matter where they live.

“The Palaszczuk Government is investing a record $801 million in healthcare in the Darling Downs region this financial year,” Mr Miles said.

“We’re investing extra growth funding to help our hardworking doctors and nurses meet the growing demand for services particularly in the current Toowoomba Emergency Department.

“This funding will also support the opening of an additional 31 beds at Toowoomba Hospital.”

Darling Downs Health Board Chair Mr Mike Horan AM said today’s announcement was tremendous news.

“On behalf of the Board, the Darling Downs Health Executive management team, and all our staff, I would like to thank the Premier and Minister for this announcement today,” Mr Horan said.

“Having a site that is 75 hectares, or around 180 acres in size, directly adjacent to the Second Toowoomba Range Crossing, provides endless opportunities for a master-planned facility, which we envisage as not just a hospital, but as a health precinct to rival anything in the world.

“In the mean-time I would like to say a special thank you to our staff at Toowoomba Hospital.

“We are operating at capacity almost all the time, and the growth within our region means there is ever increasing demand for our services as the principal referral hospital for the Darling Downs, Southern Downs, inner Western Downs and South Burnett.

“In the face of this our staff continue to perform at levels which help to maintain our position as one of the best performing health services in the state, and that is something we are very proud of.”

Media contacts: Premier’s office – Zoe Russell 0439 982 347 | Minister Miles’ office – Katharine Wright 0428 957 903