New Alpha hospital making history

Queensland’s first collocated hospital and emergency services precinct was officially opened in Alpha today.

Speaking at the opening today, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the new $17.5M Alpha Multipurpose Health Service facility would ensure the community had access to 21^st century healthcare well into the future.

“This project is the largest single government investment in Alpha local community infrastructure in many years and even before its doors opened, it delivered significant benefit to the economy, with the creation of 43 jobs in the construction phase,” the Minister said.

“While the former Alpha Hospital served this local community well for 85 years, the opening of this new, state of the art facility will ensure a better environment for healthcare delivery and better use of technology, including telehealth and access to electronic medical records.

“Importantly, all eyes have been on Alpha during the construction of this project – as the State’s first collocated hospital and emergency services precinct, this facility is now a successful model for future similar projects across the State.”

The Minister said the investment in Alpha is just one part of a $36.5M health investment the Palaszczuk Government is delivering for the Central West region.

"As a government we’re committed to making Queenslanders among the healthiest people in the world by 2026 and this means improving access to quality and safe healthcare in all its different forms and settings,’’ Mr Dick said.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s investment in Alpha, together with the rest of our multi-million dollar health investment in the Central West, will create an additional 45 jobs and ensure health staff have the highest quality facilities from which to deliver their vital services.’’

Other health infrastructure projects currently already under way or soon to get under way in the Central West include:

• $9.4 million– Longreach Hospital medical imaging, maternity and air-conditioning works.
• $3.2 million– Aramac Primary Healthcare Centre replacement.
• $2 million – Boulia Primary Healthcare Centre upgrade.
• $1.9 million – Barcaldine Multipurpose Health Centre dental clinic
• $665,000 – Blackall Hospital water pressure upgrade.
• $1.8 million – Barcaldine MPHS mechanical services upgrade.

Mr Dick said the current round of Central West works was expected to be completed by December 2017.

Central West Hospital and Health Board Chair Jane Williams said the contemporary design of the new Alpha healthcare facility included natural light and verandas.

“These provide a great therapeutic environment for patients and improved facilities for staff; including staff accommodation,’’ she said.

“There is also a separate community meeting room and amenities, as well as six short-term stay staff accommodation units for all agencies, including health.”

Ms Williams said the quality of the new staff accommodation would play a major role in helping the health service, and the other agencies involved in the collocated facility, to attract and retain staff, which was always a challenge in country areas.

Fast Facts

The Alpha MPHS component of the collocated facility comprises:

• 24-hour emergency access.
• Two inpatient beds.
• Two observation beds.
• Two resuscitation bays.
• A four-bed residential aged care facility with own verandas.
• Outpatient treatment facilities.
• Telehealth facilities and non-clinical support services.
• Private practice clinic facilities.

The $17.5 million project was jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Department of State Development.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:   Michelle Wellington 0437 323 834