WORK CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE ON CAIRNS COMMUNITY HEALTH FACILITY

Work is continuing on time and on budget for Stage 2 of the new Cairns North community health facility – another key milestone in the Bligh Government’s $446.3 million Cairns Base Hospital redevelopment project.

Touring the facility as part of her 21^st Community Cabinet as Premier Ms Bligh said the level of activity, with more than 50 workers onsite, was a highly visible indication of just how quickly the project was progressing.

The new community health facility is on the corner of Sheridan and Arthur Streets.

“The Cairns North Community Health Facility will provide the community with a range of health management, treatment and training services away from a hospital setting,” Ms Bligh said.

“A hospital is something you hope you or your family will never need to use, but it’s always reassuring to know the best possible care is available if needed.

“We are making excellent progress on this redevelopment, with the second stage of the Cairns North Community Health Facility to be completed in the middle of this year.

“We will then see Sexual Health Services, Dental Services, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service move from their current homes at Cairns Base Hospital to the new purpose-built facility.

“The relocation of these services will clear the way for the removal of existing buildings at the hospital later in 2010 and allow work to begin on the new clinical services building – Block D.

“The purpose-built community health facility at Cairns North will reflect current thinking in promoting health, managing chronic disease and reducing the need for hospital treatment through early intervention.

“Primary and community health care facilities provide an alternative location for health care services, which help to ease the strain on public hospitals and can reduce patient hospitalisation,” she said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Paul Lucas said the first stage of the Cairns North Community Health Facility was completed in May 2009 with Cairns Diabetes Centre, the Home Dialysis Training Unit and the District Building, Engineering and Maintenance Service already operating from the new facility.

“The Queensland Government is committed to enhancing health services across the State, and the Cairns Base Hospital redevelopment is a clear example of this,” Mr Lucas said.

“In addition to the community health facility, we also have construction work progressing at the hospital.

“Work is well advanced on the new Block E, which will house the new multi-storey car park and cancer care centre.

“Once completed in 2014 the redeveloped hospital will provide an additional 168 beds, bringing the total number of beds to 531,” he said.

Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said the hospital redevelopment was a significant boost for the Cairns region.

“The $446.3 million redevelopment of the hospital will help to further enhance the future provision of health services throughout Cairns and the Hinterland regions,” Ms Boyle said.

“Not only will this deliver a greater range of services for our growing population, it is also working to help boost our local economy, delivering more than 2500 jobs over the life of the project,” she said.

Other services to be expanded as part of this redevelopment include:

• additional cardiac care facilities
• additional surgical capacity including day surgery
• expanding intensive care capacity
• expanding birthing services and special care babies unit and a new low risk birth centre
• additional aged care and rehabilitation services
• new pathology facilities
• additional beds for mental health services.

Contact: Deputy Premier’s office – 0400 168 122