Published Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 03:43 PM

Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Queensland Health Director General to Visit Townsville
Health Minister Stephen Robertson has tasked his Director General to visit Townsville today to see first hand the challenges facing the District.
“The Townsville Hospital is under increasing pressure due to a record demand for services,“ Mr Robertson said.
“The situation at Townsville Hospital is also being exacerbated by a high number of staff on leave.
“We have been working to meet demand in the Townsville region and are on track to deliver on our commitment of 100 new beds for the hospital.
“Last year 22 extra hospital beds opened in a brand new unit near the Emergency Department and the redevelopment will deliver an additional 78 beds.
“Master planning of the redevelopment is due in October with the project to be completed in 2011.
“We have also been busy recruiting staff for the region with a more than 40 percent increase in the medical workforce since 2003.
“We face a difficult task in Townsville where population growth has only increased nine percent over the past five years, but Emergency Department presentations have increased by 35 percent.
“It is a challenge we continue to work with the local health district to address,” Mr Robertson said.
Contact: Catherine Goldie 3234 1190/ 0417 728 676