NEW GOLD COAST HEALTH FACILITY TO DELIVER 60 EXTRA BEDS

A new $11 million health care facility at Carrara will deliver at least 60 extra patient beds for the Gold Coast, Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Ms Bligh said Queensland Health had purchased the vacant, former aged care home on Chisholm Road to use as a step-down facility for public hospital patients with less-acute clinical needs.

“Up to 63 additional hospital beds are great news for the Gold Coast,” she said.

“Carrara delivers on my government’s ongoing commitment to increase bed numbers on the Gold Coast.

“It means some patients can continue to receive free quality care in more comfortable surroundings than an acute hospital bed.

“It will also help ease pressure on our busy Gold Coast and Robina public hospitals by freeing up acute hospital beds for patients who need them.”

Ms Bligh said the Carrara facility was currently undergoing a necessary capital works upgrade before it can be opened to patients.

“This includes installation of a gymnasium area for rehabilitation patients, and infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the care and safety needs of patients moving in,” she said.

“I’m advised the Carrara facility will be ready for its first patients from April and should have ongoing increased occupancy from 1 July 2008,” she said.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Queensland Health had acquired the Carrara facility as part of its ongoing strategy to meet growing demand for beds on the Gold Coast.

“Carrara is planned to provide a mix of services for patients including Geriatric Evaluation and Management Services, Slow Stream Rehabilitation and Maintenance/Extended Care,” Mr Roberston said.

“It will accommodate patients with less acute needs in an environment more appropriate to their needs.

“For example, elderly patients waiting for placement in aged care facilities can now spend this transition period in more comfortable surroundings than an acute hospital bed.

“On any day in Queensland, one in every 15 acute public hospital beds is occupied by elderly patients who don’t need to be in hospital, but have nowhere else to go until a nursing home place becomes available.

“Similarly, people undergoing long-term rehabilitation or requiring extended care can now be accommodated in a bed outside an acute hospital setting.”

Ms Bligh said the opening of at least 60 additional beds at Carrara is part of a larger health infrastructure transformation taking place on the Gold Coast.

“Our Government is investing nearly $1.5 billion to enhance services and increase bed numbers on the Gold Coast,” she said.

“This includes $1.23 billion on a new 750-bed Gold Coast University Hospital opening in 2012.

“There is also a $230 million expansion of Robina Hospital that will deliver an additional 179 beds by 2010; nearly doubling the hospital’s current capacity to 364 beds.”

Mr Robertson said Queensland Health had already increased bed capacity on the Gold Coast through short-term initiatives including:

• 30 extra beds at Robina Hospital plus a further 20 palliative care beds at Pacific Private Hospital to support the busy Gold Coast Hospital emergency department.

• An additional 20 beds at the Gold Coast Hospital to open soon.

• 19 additional acute mental health beds at Robina Hospital planned to be fully operational from April to free up acute beds at Gold Coast Hospital, 15 of which are already open.

• The new $40 million Robina Hospital emergency department and Intensive Care Unit opened in September; comprising 26 bed bays plus 10 short stay beds and 10 Intensive care/coronary care unit beds.

7 February, 2008

Contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500

Health Minister’s office 3234 1190