Major hospital expansion to deliver new public hospital in Springfield 

The Palaszczuk Government will partner with Mater Health Services to deliver a new 174 bed public hospital in Springfield to cater for the rapidly growing population in the Greater Ipswich region.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new Mater Public Hospital Springfield, an expansion on the current private hospital, would also include an Emergency Department, an Intensive Care Unit, Maternity service and more procedural areas.

“Greater Ipswich is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, with an ever-increasing demand for public health services,” the Premier said.

“For example, the population in the Western Metropolitan Corridor is projected to grow by 37 per cent by 2031, which is 11 per cent higher than the state population growth.

“And an extra 100,000 people will call Springfield and Ripley Valley region home in the next five years.

“This means we need to invest now to create the beds we know we need in the future.”

The Premier said the new hospital, to be co-located at the existing 95-bed Mater Private Hospital Springfield, will be built with private funds but her government would provide an initial $177 million in funding in the next budget for the care of public patients.

“This partnership will mean more than $1 billion investment by the Queensland Government over the next decade,” the Premier said.

“Importantly, this project is shovel ready with Mater expected to be able to deliver it by the end of 2024.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick said investment in health services would be one of the key priorities in June’s Queensland budget.

“Our budget will invest for growth, including growth in the demand for health services across Queensland,” the Treasurer said.

“We know that Queensland’s strong health response is the base from which our economy has been able to rebound so strongly.

“As we continue to deliver our economic recovery plan to grow Queensland jobs and businesses, we know how important it is to maintain the strength of our health system.”

Member for Jordan Charis Mullen welcomed the partnership saying it would provide vital public health services for her growing community and help with the region’s economic recovery.

“I have been a strong advocate in supporting our community’s wishes for more public health services in this region and today’s announcement of a new public hospital shows that our Government is listening,” she said.

“This new public hospital for Springfield will deliver a major economic boost for the booming region and that means being able to continue our economic recovery by creating jobs.

“This project alone will create more than 700 jobs during construction and more than 1,000 new frontline health jobs once operational.”

The Mater Public Hospital Springfield will deliver:

• 174 public overnight and same-day beds, including Intensive Care Unit and Maternity Services.
• A much-needed Emergency Department in the region
• Increased interventional spaces, such as operating theatres and endoscopy suite
• Increased clinical capability of the service, meaning more complex care can be treated locally
• Increased private bed capacity and services in the region.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath there would be further capacity for expansion at the new public hospital.

“This new public hospital in Springfield will complement the current facility and significantly boost capacity in the local health network,” she said.

“Queensland Health already works closely with Mater Health Services to deliver health care to Queensland across the state, and this investment is only strengthening this partnership.

“The Palaszczuk Government will fully fund the additional operational funding required for the new facility on an ongoing basis from its expected opening in 2024.”

Minister D’Ath said the expanded Mater Springfield site will function as a fully integrated campus providing services for both public and private patients.

ENDS

Media contact:

Zoe Russell (Premier’s office) – 0439 982 347

Geoff Breusch (Treasurer’s office) - 0417 272 875

Martin Philip (Health Minister’s office) - 0407 675 008