New school to attract doctors to Sunshine Coast

The State Government and the University of Queensland will establish the first clinical school on the Sunshine Coast, attracting doctors young and experienced to the region, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson was visiting Caloundra Hospital to inspect plans for a $27.7 million expansion that would deliver an additional 30 hospital beds next year.

He said the new clinical school would be based at Nambour Hospital from next year then re-locate to the new tertiary hospital when it is built at Kawana.

“This is an exciting joint initiative between Queensland Health and UQ to build our medical workforce in this fast-growing region and a big win for the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Robertson said.

“Both Queensland Health and UQ will jointly fund a shared position of Head of Clinical School who will also take on clinical duties for the Sunshine Coast and Cooloola Health District.

“Through the new school, the Sunshine Coast will increasingly become a major training ground for medical students and graduates in Queensland

“We will need growing number of clinicians on the Sunshine Coast to staff the new 650-bed capacity hospital at Kawana and meet growing demand for health services in the region.”

“This year the district will help train 120 3^rd and 4^th year medical students or around 30 students at any one time.

“That intake is expected to double over the next few years. Nambour Hospital has a long and proud history of educating and training our doctors of the future and its reputation will only be enhanced through this initiative.”

Head of UQ’s School of Medicine Professor David Wilkinson said the appointment would have a number of positive outcomes for the local health district and the wider community.

“This appointment recognises the importance of medical student training and the key role that regional centres can play in meeting the community’s future medical needs,” he said.

“This senior appointment will enable increased opportunities for clinical training for medical students, helping to build the future medical workforce.

“These students will gain experience working in a regional hospital, which can also assist with future recruitment of doctors to non-metropolitan areas.

“The increased academic presence provided by this senior role can also help attract other medical specialists to the area.”

Mr Robertson said the 60-bed Caloundra Hospital expansion formed part of a $79 million election commitment to deliver an additional 90 hospital beds for the Sunshine Coast before the new $940 million tertiary hospital is built. Nambour Hospital will grow in capacity by another 60 beds.

“The expansion will include an 8-bed emergency observation unit, a 12-bed renal dialysis unit and a 10-bed palliative care unit,” he said.

“It will also involve the construction of a two-storey building to house a 12-chair oral health unit with dental laboratories and other facilities.

“The hospital’s Red Cross rooms and community health unit will be refurbished and the medical imaging unit and pharmacy department expanded to allow for improved services and capacity.”

Mr Robertson said he expected construction to start this year so the project could be completed in 2008.

“Both of these projects – the Clinical School and the Caloundra expansion - demonstrate the State Government’s strong commitment to improving health services on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

“Not only are we building a major tertiary hospital to meet the needs of a growing community, we are also acting now to enhance our infrastructure and clinical workforce in the interim.”

9 November 2007

MEDIA:
Health Minister’s Office: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185

University of Queensland: Marlene McKendry 0401 996 847