Work begins on new Gold Coast University Hospita

Gold Coast residents will begin to see their new hospital take shape from today, with the first sod turned on the $1.55 billion Gold Coast University Hospital.

Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson were on the Gold Coast to mark the important milestone of what is currently the country’s biggest health development.

“Today, the real work begins on what will be one of Queensland’s flagship hospitals,” Ms Bligh said.

“The Gold Coast University Hospital will deliver Gold Coasters a world-class health facility with more comprehensive services in cancer care, cardiac, neurosciences, neonatal intensive care and trauma services.

“Its 750 beds are almost twice the current hospital’s 450 and additional medical services mean more Gold Coast residents will be treated closer to home.

“For example, women who give birth to premature babies will no longer have to travel to Brisbane – they will have access to neonatal care right here on the Gold Coast.

“And Gold Coast women diagnosed with breast cancer will be able to access public radiotherapy treatments on the Gold Coast for the first time,” she said.

Mr Robertson said the Gold Coast was now the sixth largest city in Australia and the new tertiary hospital would ensure the future health needs of the region are met.

“The Gold Coast University Hospital will be a teaching and research hospital co-located with a tertiary education facility,” Mr Robertson said.

“This will create a shared environment where the teaching of future generations of health workers will be undertaken alongside the hand-on delivery of patient care.

“It will be a nine storey structure, with a total construction area of approximately 165,000 square metres— equivalent to 25 rugby league fields. That’s approximately four times the size of the current Gold Coast Hospital.

“We chose this site because of its accessibility, capacity to allow for further expansion, and the ability to link with nearby education facilities – it will be a hospital that meets the needs of the Gold Coast well into the future,” he said.

Completion of the project is due in 2012.

Bovis Lend Lease (managing contractor) have established a hotline for any queries about the construction of the new hospital - 1800 775 203.

Some features of the new hospital include:

·Precinct planning - the hospital will be the focal point of the new Hospital and Knowledge Precinct at Southport

·750 multi-day beds

·Nine levels and room for future expansion

·Expanded services in Cancer Care, Cardiac, Neurosciences, Neonatal Intensive Care and Trauma services

·70 per cent of rooms will be single rooms with an ensuite and parkland views, while the remainder will be two bed rooms

·Convenient parking with up to 3,000 car spaces in two multi-storey car parks on-site offering easy access and safe parking for staff, patients and visitors

·Short-term parking and set down areas will be near the front entrance

·Outpatient comprehensive ambulatory care services supported by up-to-date diagnostic imaging services

·Environmentally sustainable design incorporated in all planning, design and construction phases to minimise the hospital’s future energy use

·Improved public transport facilities with convenient stops close to the main entrance

·Helipad on the main building roof with direct lift access to critical areas such as operating rooms, cardiac and emergency medicine

·Ambulance access to the hospital at multiple points for emergency services

·Education and research embedded in all clinical areas and partnerships created with education providers

·Provision for a co-located private hospital, medical and specialist services, as well as retail outlets.

END

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3234 1190 (Minister Robertson’s office)