Published Thursday, 07 August, 2008 at 02:55 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
WORKS UNDERWAY ON NEW SOUTH-SIDE ELECTIVE SURGERY CENTRE
Premier Anna Bligh today inspected early works on a dedicated elective surgery centre at QEII Jubilee Hospital that will deliver an estimated 2000 more elective procedures a year.
Premier Anna Bligh said the new centre would deliver 30 extra beds, an additional operating theatre and a newly refurbished outpatients unit.
“Tackling Queensland’s elective surgery waiting lists has been one of my top health priorities since becoming Premier and this new centre will play a critical role in delivering this,” Ms Bligh said.
“The $100 million investment in the QEII Hospital upgrade will mean more Queenslanders will get the operations they need more quickly, concentrating on endoscopy, orthopaedics, urology and general surgery.
“The additional operating theatre will become fully dedicated to elective surgeries.
“Along with the Government’s innovative program Surgery Connect, which funds public patients to treated by private doctors, these dedicated centres are seeing more patients treated than ever before.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson, who joined the Premier in inspecting the site, said the project would compliment existing dedicated elective surgery centres.
“Redcliffe, Caboolture and the Gold Coast are all now home to a dedicated elective surgery centre, designed to expand our hospitals’ capacity for more elective surgery.
“The centres are an important part of the Bligh Government’s response to reducing waiting lists, which also includes a multi-billion investment in statewide infrastructure through the redevelopment of eight major hospitals and the construction of three brand-new tertiary hospitals,” he said.
The QEII redevelopment also included a full refurbishment of Outpatients and Allied Health facilities, and an integration of Day Surgery functions and Endoscopy Services with the Operating Suite.
Preferred contractor Watpac Australia Pty Ltd was awarded the redevelopment contract on July 31, and the project is expected to be completed in early 2009.
Premier Anna Bligh said the new centre would deliver 30 extra beds, an additional operating theatre and a newly refurbished outpatients unit.
“Tackling Queensland’s elective surgery waiting lists has been one of my top health priorities since becoming Premier and this new centre will play a critical role in delivering this,” Ms Bligh said.
“The $100 million investment in the QEII Hospital upgrade will mean more Queenslanders will get the operations they need more quickly, concentrating on endoscopy, orthopaedics, urology and general surgery.
“The additional operating theatre will become fully dedicated to elective surgeries.
“Along with the Government’s innovative program Surgery Connect, which funds public patients to treated by private doctors, these dedicated centres are seeing more patients treated than ever before.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson, who joined the Premier in inspecting the site, said the project would compliment existing dedicated elective surgery centres.
“Redcliffe, Caboolture and the Gold Coast are all now home to a dedicated elective surgery centre, designed to expand our hospitals’ capacity for more elective surgery.
“The centres are an important part of the Bligh Government’s response to reducing waiting lists, which also includes a multi-billion investment in statewide infrastructure through the redevelopment of eight major hospitals and the construction of three brand-new tertiary hospitals,” he said.
The QEII redevelopment also included a full refurbishment of Outpatients and Allied Health facilities, and an integration of Day Surgery functions and Endoscopy Services with the Operating Suite.
Preferred contractor Watpac Australia Pty Ltd was awarded the redevelopment contract on July 31, and the project is expected to be completed in early 2009.