PATIENTS BENEFIT FROM $134 MILLION EXPANSION OF PRINCE CHARLES
Published Tuesday, 03 July, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
More than 10,000 extra patients a year will be treated at The Prince Charles Hospital as a result of a $134 million redevelopment, Premier Peter Beattie and Health Minister Stephen Robertson announced today.
Mr Beattie and Mr Robertson officially opened the hospital’s new three-storey Critical Care and Medical Services Building – the first, $62 million part of the redevelopment – which will provide expanded medical and surgical services to patients.
The new state-of-the-art building includes:
• An expanded Emergency Department and Emergency Medical Unit;
• Two new 30-bed medical and surgical wards;
• A new 27-bed Intensive Care Unit.
Mr Beattie said the new medical facility delivers on the Queensland Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan and represents a significant milestone for the hospital and patients.
“The Prince Charles Hospital already enjoys an international reputation as a world-class specialist cardiothoracic hospital,” Mr Beattie said.
“This new facility allows the hospital to significantly expand its patient services to include, for the first time, general medicine and general surgery,” he said.
“That means The Prince Charles will provide care for more than 53,000 patients each year, including approximately 30,000 admitted patients.
“Previously, all non-cardiothoracic patients would have been treated at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Redcliffe or Caboolture Hospitals.
“The redevelopment will also increase the hospital’s bed capacity by 140 to 621 beds by 2008.”
Mr Robertson said the new Critical Care and Medical Services Building was already having a positive impact on hospital services.
“Not only is Prince Charles caring for more patients than ever before, it’s also helping to ease pressure on surrounding hospitals on Brisbane’s northside,” Mr Robertson said..
“For example, General Surgery Services is already performing elective surgery procedures for patients taken from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital waiting list,” he said.
“The new Emergency Department has already treated more than 6,000 patients including more than 2,000 admissions since opening in February.
“Patients who require admission can now be referred to the new general medical ward or the new Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) which has already admitted more than 400 patients.
"Along with the new unit, comes a new model of emergency care where patients can now be transferred to the EMU for further treatment.
"This gives doctors time to conduct further tests and, within 24 to 48 hours, patients can be either discharged or transferred to the appropriate ward area for ongoing care.
"This reduces the level of access block for patients treated in the emergency department and awaiting admission to a ward bed."
Mr Robertson said the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been in use since the beginning of March.
“The 27-bed ICU comprises three nine-bed pods which provide larger and more practical facilities for patients and staff than previously available.
“The ICU is the only one in Australia which features a specialised area in which surgeons can perform complex emergency cardiac surgical procedures without transferring patients back to the operating theatre.
“Additionally, more than1,500 patients have already been admitted to the new General Medical and General Surgical services at the hospital.”
The opening of the new Critical Care and Medical Services Building today marks the end of Stage One of The Price Charles Hospital redevelopment project.
Stage Two will involve refurbishing parts of the existing hospital, including operating theatres and the current outpatients’ area, plus conversion of the old emergency department into clinic rooms.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office 3225 2680
Mr Beattie and Mr Robertson officially opened the hospital’s new three-storey Critical Care and Medical Services Building – the first, $62 million part of the redevelopment – which will provide expanded medical and surgical services to patients.
The new state-of-the-art building includes:
• An expanded Emergency Department and Emergency Medical Unit;
• Two new 30-bed medical and surgical wards;
• A new 27-bed Intensive Care Unit.
Mr Beattie said the new medical facility delivers on the Queensland Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan and represents a significant milestone for the hospital and patients.
“The Prince Charles Hospital already enjoys an international reputation as a world-class specialist cardiothoracic hospital,” Mr Beattie said.
“This new facility allows the hospital to significantly expand its patient services to include, for the first time, general medicine and general surgery,” he said.
“That means The Prince Charles will provide care for more than 53,000 patients each year, including approximately 30,000 admitted patients.
“Previously, all non-cardiothoracic patients would have been treated at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Redcliffe or Caboolture Hospitals.
“The redevelopment will also increase the hospital’s bed capacity by 140 to 621 beds by 2008.”
Mr Robertson said the new Critical Care and Medical Services Building was already having a positive impact on hospital services.
“Not only is Prince Charles caring for more patients than ever before, it’s also helping to ease pressure on surrounding hospitals on Brisbane’s northside,” Mr Robertson said..
“For example, General Surgery Services is already performing elective surgery procedures for patients taken from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital waiting list,” he said.
“The new Emergency Department has already treated more than 6,000 patients including more than 2,000 admissions since opening in February.
“Patients who require admission can now be referred to the new general medical ward or the new Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) which has already admitted more than 400 patients.
"Along with the new unit, comes a new model of emergency care where patients can now be transferred to the EMU for further treatment.
"This gives doctors time to conduct further tests and, within 24 to 48 hours, patients can be either discharged or transferred to the appropriate ward area for ongoing care.
"This reduces the level of access block for patients treated in the emergency department and awaiting admission to a ward bed."
Mr Robertson said the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been in use since the beginning of March.
“The 27-bed ICU comprises three nine-bed pods which provide larger and more practical facilities for patients and staff than previously available.
“The ICU is the only one in Australia which features a specialised area in which surgeons can perform complex emergency cardiac surgical procedures without transferring patients back to the operating theatre.
“Additionally, more than1,500 patients have already been admitted to the new General Medical and General Surgical services at the hospital.”
The opening of the new Critical Care and Medical Services Building today marks the end of Stage One of The Price Charles Hospital redevelopment project.
Stage Two will involve refurbishing parts of the existing hospital, including operating theatres and the current outpatients’ area, plus conversion of the old emergency department into clinic rooms.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office 3225 2680