New tenders crack $2 billion mark for hospital expansions across Queensland

Published Tuesday, 23 May, 2023 at 01:15 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

  • More than $2.55 billion of contracts awarded to deliver six hospital expansions this month in Brisbane, Ipswich, Mackay, Logan and Cairns which will deliver 897 additional beds.
  • Built Qld Pty Ltd awarded the contract to deliver the $465 million QEII Jubilee Hospital Expansion project, 112 extra beds, 1,120 construction jobs.
  • BESIX Watpac Qld Pty Ltd awarded the contract to deliver the $710 million Ipswich Hospital Stage 2 Expansion, 200 extra beds, 1,700 construction jobs.

The Palaszczuk Government has awarded new hospital tenders bringing the total value of contracts awarded in May to $2.55 billion to deliver 897 extra hospital beds and supporting 5304 construction jobs.

The Government has today awarded $1.17 billion in tenders to deliver another two major hospital expansions.

Both QEII Jubilee and Ipswich Hospital expansions will deliver an extra 312 beds and creating 2,800 construction jobs across both projects.

A further $1.38 billion in contracts for four hospital expansions were announced earlier this month:

 The $465 million QEII Jubilee Hospital Expansion will deliver 112 additional beds at the precinct, and significantly boost capacity for in-demand elective surgeries through a new dedicated facility and will help meet the growing demand for health services on Brisbane’s southside.

The $710 million Ipswich Hospital Stage 2 Expansion which will deliver an additional 200 beds also includes a new purpose-built acute clinical service building, a new Emergency Department, six additional operating theatres, satellite medical imaging service and a new Central Sterilisation Service Department.

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“We’re investing an extra $9.78 billion under our Health and Hospitals Plan to deliver three new hospitals, 11 major hospital expansions, seven satellite hospitals, and 3,378 more beds for Queenslanders.

“That’s all part of our overall health budget of $23.6 billion to make sure Queenslanders get the health services they need closer to home and our frontline health workers have the tools they need to save lives.

“Today’s announcement of another two key tenders being awarded for QEII Jubilee and Ipswich Hospital expansion projects and the other three awarded earlier this month for Logan, Cairns, Mackay and the PA Hospitals, means the contractors can get to work to deliver these projects as soon as possible.

“Better facilities mean better care delivered where it’s needed, working in tandem with a bolstered workforce and our new Satellite Hospitals, which will be open progressively."

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Shannon Fentiman:

“I am pleased to announce BESIX Watpac Qld Pty Ltd has been awarded the tender for the $710 million Ipswich Hospital Stage 2 expansion.

“West Moreton is the fastest growing hospital and health service in Queensland, with the population projected to reach 587,600 by 2036.

“That is why we are providing 200 additional beds and greater access to a range of health services through Stage 2 of the Ipswich Hospital expansion.

“We also have Built Qld Pty Ltd onboard to deliver the $465 million major expansion project to transform the QEII Jubilee Hospital.

“The addition of 112 beds will significantly boost capacity to the region, and the South-Brisbane community can continue to put their trust in our health system.

“We are investing a record-breaking $9.78 billion over the next six years to deliver new hospitals and more beds for Queenslanders with our Queensland Health and Hospitals Plan.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Toohey Peter Russo:

“It’s the people in our local community who will reap the benefits of having greater access to the world class facilities here at QEII, thanks to our $435 million investment.

“I welcome Built Qld onboard, and I look forward to seeing this expansion take shape over the coming years.”  

Quotes attributable to Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard:

“This is an exciting time for Ipswich and the surrounding communities who rely on the health heroes working from our hospitals.

“I’m proud to stand as part of a government that continues to invest in the health infrastructure needed to support our community’s rapid expansion. “

Quotes attributable to Metro South Hospital and Health Service Acting Chief Executive Noelle Cridland:

“The QEII Hospital Expansion is a huge win for Metro South Health and the Brisbane southside community. 

“This major expansion – together with the $25 million rapid expansion which is already underway – will increase bed capacity at QEII Hospital by more than half.

“This is an exciting milestone for QEII Hospital, and we look forward to providing even more high-quality healthcare services close to home for our local community.”

Quotes attributable to the West Moreton Health Chief Executive Hannah Bloch:

“Our health service is undergoing a substantial transformation to ensure we can meet the health care needs of our community as it grows.

“We welcome the announcement of the Ipswich Hospital Stage 2 expansion and the 200 beds it will deliver. This is on top of the new satellite hospital and mental health unit which will open to the public later this year.”

Background information:

Ipswich Hospital

$146.3 million investment in Stage 1 which delivered a new MRI suite, a 26-bed medical and surgical ward, and a transit lounge for the local community and is expected to be completed this year with the delivery of the new Acute Mental Health Unit.

The $710 million Stage 2 expansion project delivering an additional 200 beds is expected to be complete in the second half of 2027.

The West Moreton community will also benefit from a new Satellite Hospital in Ripley opening later this year, as well as the new Mater Public Hospital in Springfield.

Since 2015, we’ve hired 197 more doctors, 828 more nurses and midwives, 80 more ambulance officers, and 96 more allied health professionals in the West Moreton region.

QEII Jubilee Hospital Expansion

On top of the $465 million QEII Hospital expansion project delivering 112 beds, the Palaszczuk Government has also invested $25 million for a 28-bed inpatient ward at the hospital and opened a 26-bed expansion last year.

Significant investments are also happening in Brisbane’s south through the $350 million expansion at the PA Hospital delivering 249 beds expected to be complete in the second half of 2026 and the $5.8 million renal refurbishment also at the PA Hospital, delivering an additional 8 beds.

The $530 million Logan Hospital Stage 2 expansion is delivering an additional 112 beds and is expected to be complete in the second half of 2026. Other investments at the Logan Hospital include $460 million Stage 1 Expansion delivering 206 additional beds, $20 million rapid expansion modular ward with 28 new beds, $18.8 million maternity refurbishment project and $61.9 million new eight level carpark opened last year.

Two new Satellite Hospitals are being built in Eight Mile Plains and Redlands as part of the $377 million Satellite Hospitals Program.

A $62 million investment for the Redland Hospital Stage 1 expansion is delivering 37 additional beds and a new ICU, and a $25 million modular expansion is delivering 28 new beds.

The Palaszczuk Government has increased the budget for the Metro South Health Service to a record $3.02 billion in 2022-23 – an increase of 60 per cent compared to the LNP’s last budget.

Since 2015, we’ve hired 359 more doctors, 1,254 more nurses and midwives, 175 more ambulance officers, and 283 more allied health professionals in the Metro South region.

ENDS