New spinal unit scrapped after $500m price tag revealed
The state government has revealed a new spinal unit proposed by Labor has been shelved due to the staggering cost that would cover just 23 extra beds.
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Plans for a new state-of-the-art spinal unit have been shelved, with the state government revealing the facility proposed by Labor would have cost a whopping $495m — for just 23 extra beds.
And the Crisafulli government has claimed the project was so expensive their Labor predecessors chose not to go ahead despite being handed the business case weeks before its final budget.
Instead of a brand new facility, Queensland Health will now go back to the drawing board, including potential expansions or upgrades to the existing Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) next to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the Townsville Hospital spinal unit.
This masthead in 2023 revealed paralysed patients were left to lie in their own faeces, sit naked in front of other patients, and be subjected to aggressive bowel treatments at the state’s only dedicated spinal injury unit.
The revelations sent shockwaves through the health sector and prompted the then-Labor government to spend $5m on a business case for a new purpose-built unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The business case, obtained by this masthead and labelled “cabinet-in-confidence”, was completed in just nine weeks and submitted to Labor in April 2024.
It found a 63-bed, six-storey facility complete with a hydrotherapy pool was feasible — at a cost of $495m.
This would have added 23 beds to the existing unit’s capacity of 40.
It would have involved the demolition of four buildings at the PA, and the temporary relocation of the maintenance services department while the new spinal unit was built.
A concept validation report — published just days after the October state election — also backed in the original business case while lowering the overall cost by just $1m to $494m.
Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick slammed Premier David Crisafulli for rejecting a business case that recommended a new facility despite repeatedly promising to listen to the experts.
Mr Dick said a re-elected Labor government would have pushed ahead on the new facility “subject to the project validation report”.
“Queenslanders who have suffered a spinal injury deserve nothing less,” he said.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said a new spinal cord injury plan focused on helping patients receive treatment closer to home would be developed after consultation.
“We will take the time to consult with clinicians, properly plan for the needs of the patients and the staff who treat them, and deliver specialist services and long-term infrastructure solutions,” he said.
“The new spinal cord injury service model aims to increase Queenslanders’ access to specialised spinal cord injury services and resources closer to where they live.
“The model reinforces the value of establishing a network of spinal services across the state, beyond the South-East corner.”
It is understood there are about 40 people currently waiting for a spinal bed.
Originally published as New spinal unit scrapped after $500m price tag revealed
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