Bligh delivers innovative solution for Gold Coast elective surgery

A new $14.5 million day surgery centre on the Gold Coast will help public hospital patients get their elective surgery sooner, Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Ms Bligh said Queensland Health had signed a five-year agreement to sub-lease the private Allamanda Surgicentre opposite the Gold Coast Hospital at Southport.

“We’re transforming this facility into an elective surgery centre for public patients clinically able to have their procedures done as day surgery,” she said.

“This includes patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery, basic orthopaedic work; gynaecological, ear, nose and throat procedures; dental surgery requiring general anaesthesia, and removal of skin lesions.

“The new Gold Coast Surgical Centre will begin operating by the end of July.

“It will have three operating theatres with separate recovery area for day patients.

“We anticipate doctors at the centre will perform approximately 6,000 additional elective surgery day procedures a year.”

“This will help more public hospital patients get their elective surgery done sooner and come off waiting lists.

”That’s why this new day surgery centre is win-win for Gold Coast patients,” Ms Bligh said.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the new day surgery centre would also help ease pressure on the busy Gold Coast and Robina Hospitals.

“Having elective surgery as a day procedure means you are not admitted to hospital which frees up more acute hospital beds for patients that need them.

“Transferring less complex cases to the day centre will significantly free up theatre time at our two hospitals enabling doctors to better manage surgical lists and do more operations.

“It will also allow doctors in the hospitals to concentrate on doing more complex elective and trauma surgery.”

Mr Robertson said the lease agreement with Healthscope Ltd represented an innovative approach to meeting growing demand for local health services.

“Gold Coast and Robina Hospitals are busier than ever before and treating more patients than ever before.

“They’re already treating nearly 25% more patients than last year.

“Yet they continue to experience record growth in hospital admissions, emergency presentations and demand for both emergency and elective surgery.

“Doctors must always give first priority to patients requiring life-saving emergency surgery and trauma surgery

“This often impacts on the capacity of doctors to do elective surgery; meaning some patients may have to wait longer for their procedures.”

Mr Robertson said the new Gold Coast Surgical Centre was a partnership effort between the Bligh and Rudd Governments.

“The $14.5 million capital funding for the five-year lease and surgical fit-out comes from Queensland’s share of the Rudd Government’s $150 million program to reduce waiting times for elective surgery.

“Queensland Health will provide recurrent funding to fully staff and operate the day surgery centre.

“This project shows what we can achieve when Queensland and the Commonwealth work together to deliver better health services for patients.

“It also reflects the Bligh Government’s ongoing commitment to plan for the future and manage growth,” he said.

Media: Paul Lynch 0408 577 621