$16.5 million community health care revamp for Gladstone

Patients will benefit from a “one-stop shop” for improved and expanded health services with the official opening today of Gladstone’s redeveloped Community Health Services Centre.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson opened the redeveloped centre which represents a consolidation of local Queensland Health services on one site at Gladstone Hospital.

Mr Robertson said the $16.5 million redevelopment would give Gladstone residents better and more convenient access to improved clinical care.

“The move on-site to Gladstone Hospital enables patients to access community health services in one location,” he said.

“The first two stages of the redevelopment involved the construction of a new purpose-built facility for community health services and the relocation of mental health services to the same site.

“It meant an extension of the existing building and the refurbishment of its old section.

“The redeveloped facility sees the relocation of Mental Health Services from leased offices in the Gladstone CBD.

“The facility also accommodates Queensland Health’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATODS) Unit from its former hospital setting.

“This project reflects Queensland Health’s vision of providing a more integrated approach to delivering community health services in Gladstone.

“The services had clearly outgrown the old facilities, with staff and patient numbers rapidly expanding over the years.”

Mr Robertson said more than 12,000 patients a year visit Gladstone’s Community Health Services Centre to access nutrition, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, cardiac rehabilitation, aged and disability services and Indigenous services.

“This facility is another example of the how the Bligh Government’s $10 billion Health Action Plan is delivering improved health services for Queenslanders.

“And there’s more to come.

“Queensland Health is also progressing designs for stage 3 of the Gladstone redevelopment.

“Stage 3 involves a new stand alone dental health clinic we will build on the Gladstone Hospital site.”

Mr Robertson said the expansion of services in Gladstone has been carefully planned.

“What this project highlights is the Bligh Government’s commitment to providing the best possible health facilities for Queenslanders, no matter where they live,” he said.

“That’s why we are investing in projects like this which will take health services in Gladstone into a new era.”

Media: Martin Philip 3225 2680 or 0407 675 008