Cairns Private Hospital upgrade works to start in late January

The start date for a hotly anticipated $18m infrastructure upgrade that’s due to increase capacity at Cairns Private Hospital has been delayed. Here’s why.

From left to right: Ben Tooth, CEO Cairns Private Hospital; Britney Marsh, registered nurse; Jo O’Leary, perioperative services manager; Rachel Reid, registered nurse; and, Dr Robert Pozzi, orthopaedic surgeon. Dr Pozzi has previously described the hospital’s impending upgrade as “pretty timely”. Picture: supplied

Construction works as part of a vital upgrade to Cairns Private Hospital’s operating facilities will start at the end of January after initially being expected to begin in November last year.

Ben Tooth, the hospital’s CEO, said the two-month delay has been caused by minor issues in finalising contractors, but commencement of works were now all but locked in.

The two-stage works will include a new sterilising department, due to open in July this year, and two new operating theatres, which are expected to open in June 2024.

Cairns Private Hospital CEO Ben Tooth said upgrade works would commence in late January. Picture: Isaac McCarthy.

“We have to build the new sterilising department first because the new theatres are going into the space occupied by the existing sterilising department,” Mr Tooth said.

“This upgrade, which will bring our number of operating theatres to nine, will certainly bring additional capacity with newer, higher-quality equipment.”

Mr Tooth also announced Ramsay, the parent company of Cairns Private Hospital, was opening a new psychology outpatient practice on McLeod St in Cairns City.

Ramsay Psychology, as it will be known, is due to open within the next fortnight.

“This is good for mental health services in Cairns … it will help provide continuity of care for patients. It’s a much needed space to fill,” Mr Tooth said.

Regarding the vacant land adjacent to Cairns Private Hospital bought by Ramsay in November 2021, Mr Tooth said plans were in the works.

“We expect to have a master plan finalised in the next four to six months,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns Private Hospital upgrade works to start in late January