SECOND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

A new $40 million emergency department and intensive care unit at Robina had already treated more than 1,100 patients in its first three weeks, Premier Anna Bligh said.

Ms Bligh joined Health Minister Stephen Robertson today to officially open the 40-bed emergency department and 10-bed intensive care-coronary care unit.

Ms Bligh said ambulance vehicles were travelling less, southside Gold Coast residents were being treated closer to home and more doctors and nurses were treating more Gold Coast patients.

“For the first time, the Gold Coast has two public hospital emergency departments,” Ms Bligh said.

“That means 40 emergency beds the Gold Coast never had before which is going a long way to meeting demand in one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.

“The pressure is expected to ease on the other end of the coast at Southport ED which saw more than 65,000 patients last year.

“Robina has exceeded expectations and the benefits will grow further from now on with all 40 beds opened and staffed from today.”

Mr Robertson said as of Friday, Robina ED had treated a total 1,168 patients, mostly less urgent cases.

“Between 60 to 70 patients are being treated daily at the Robina ED and that should further increase to up to 100 patients over the next two months,” he said.

“Ambulance access is also improving because Robina has already seen around 250 patients transferred by ambulance.

“Robina and Southport will operate as a close network to form the Gold Coast Hospital Emergency Department.

“For instance, we can expect either hospital to lend a hand when the other one is struggling to cope with sudden influxes of patients.”

Mr Robertson said Robina’s ED capacity was growing as its staffing increased.

“It first opened with staffing to support around 24 beds,” he said.

“It now has 33 doctors and nurses each day allowing for 40 beds to open during daylight hours – at least a dozen are operating throughout the night.

“It will grow to full capacity around the clock as our medical and nursing ranks increase.

“The 10-bed ICU-CCU is also providing much needed intensive care services on the Coast, complementing 11 ICU beds at Southport.”

Ms Bligh said Queensland Health was now the largest employer on the Gold Coast with more than 4,000 staff providing health care to more than 500,000 people every year.

“The State Government is currently spending $1.2 million each and every day providing health services to the Gold Coast community and this investment will only increase,” she said.

“Our election commitment is to expand Robina even further over the next four years with 180 additional beds to build a 364-bed teaching hospital.

“Master planning is also progressing well for a health precinct in the Robina area.”

The State Government took over Robina Hospital from the Sisters of Mercy in 2002.

After the $40 million expansion and increasing growth, Robina now employs more than 1,000 staff.

Ms Bligh said Robina was just one example of how the State Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan was building a better health system in Queensland.

“The Action Plan has already delivered an extra 1,073 doctors, 3,801 nurses and 1,228 allied health professionals since June 2005,” she said.

“These staff increases mean we are treating more patients than ever before.

“Queensland is also rolling out the largest health capital works program in Australia, upgrading emergency departments throughout the state and building three tertiary hospitals – on the Gold and the Sunshine Coasts and the new Queensland Children’s Hospital.”

Media contact: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500

Health Minister’s Office (07) 3234 1185