Queensland’s first digital hospital reaches for the STARS

Queensland’s new 182-bed “digital ready” hospital, the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), is now treating patients in Brisbane.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and Education Minister and Member for McConnel Grace Grace visited the new $340 million facility today for the important milestone.

It’s the first building to be completed as part of the $1.1 billion Herston Quarter redevelopment.

“STARS is set to become one of Australia’s largest rehabilitation facilities to treat patients requiring general and complex rehabilitation care,” the Premier said.

“I was here at the beginning of construction in 2018 and to now see it completed and welcoming patients is just incredible.

“Healthcare, including elective surgery, is now underway and this is set to reduce patient wait lists and increase access to specialist treatment for approximately 100,000 Queenslanders each year.”

Minister D’Ath said patient care would be redefined by digital technology as well as the extensive range of new and enhanced specialist services at STARS.

“As a digital hospital, clinicians will have access to patient medical information at their fingertips on computers and devices instead of paper files, freeing up their time to care for patients instead of doing paperwork,” Minister D’Ath said.

“STARS will not just benefit people in the south east but the whole state and will mean an additional 14,000 gastroenterology procedures, 12,000 surgical procedures and 4,830 diagnostic procedures can be performed each year by creating extra capacity at RBWH and other public hospitals.

“It’s also creating jobs, hundreds during construction which continued during COVID but almost 400 healthcare workers already employed and growing to 900 in the future when fully operational.”

Minister Grace said STARS was an important milestone for the transformative $1.1 billion Herston Quarter redevelopment.

“The procedure centre within STARS features seven operating theatres and three endoscopy suites plus a 28-bed surgical ward,” Ms Grace said.

“Patients will be able to receive treatment for low complexity surgical procedures across a range of specialities including gastroenterology, general surgery, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), ophthalmology, urology, and orthopaedics.

“STARS is one of the largest tertiary specialist rehabilitation centres of its kind in the southern hemisphere with 100 beds dedicated to rehabilitation and geriatric services.”

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell – 0439 982 347 / Martin Philip - 0407 675 008