‘Watching a disaster unfold’: Calls mount for Crisafulli government to buy Brisbane private hospital

The state opposition has joined 11th-hour calls for the Queensland government to swoop in and save one of Brisbane’s few mental health hospitals from closure.

The financially stricken Toowong Private Hospital, which treated 3000 patients annually, was set to close its doors on Wednesday after administrators brought in last month found no viable option to keep it open, and found no potential buyers.

The hospital’s chief executive, Christine Gee, denied rumours it was at risk of closing in September last year, despite a funding crisis involving health insurers that threatened the viability of private hospitals nationwide.

Toowong Private Hospital has been operating on Milton Road for more than 40 years.Credit: Facebook

Patients and their treating psychiatrists were given just two weeks’ notice that the hospital would close, leaving doctors scrambling to find available beds at the few other facilities in Brisbane.

Opposition health spokesman Mark Bailey has called on the state government to step in, echoing calls made by the Greens and current and former patients alike.

“Any responsible government should be getting in here and dealing with the situation, purchasing the hospital,” Bailey told ABC Radio on Wednesday morning.

“The government is just sitting on their hands, and waving and watching the disaster unfold.

“It costs a lot more to establish 58 beds from scratch … It’s simply a logical situation here where any responsible state government would move in and sort this out, roll it into the public system, and keep these 58 beds online.”

The state government has so far refused to acquire Toowong Private, despite there being precedent, when Queensland Health bought Gladstone Mater Hospital in 2020 under former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Premier David Crisafulli conceded the hospital’s closure would leave a “big hole in the market” as many defence force veterans were treated at the facility.

“Our focus is making sure that we strengthen our public system to be able to provide support to as many Queenslanders as possible,” he said on Wednesday morning.

He said this month’s state budget would have a “record amount of money” put towards health services.

“And we sincerely hope the private sector also does its part,” he said.

Greens MP Michael Berkman joined about 40 present and former patients who rallied outside the hospital on Monday afternoon to reiterate the party’s calls for the government to save the facility.

“This LNP government claims to care about Queensland’s health system, so this is their opportunity to put their money where their mouth is and prevent a crucial health service disappearing on their watch,” Berkman said.

Last week, Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls told ABC Radio the hospital tended to treat “lower acuity patients”.

His statement was condemned by those fighting to save Toowong Private, with many saying the hospital treated high-acuity patients, and credited the facility with saving their lives.

The family-owned hospital provided in-patient and out-patient psychiatric care to Queenslanders for more than four decades, including dedicated trauma and alcohol recovery programs for defence force personnel.

The closure comes amid a national hospital funding crisis, in which private operators argue they are being short-changed by health insurers.

Meanwhile, receivers for private hospital giant Healthscope continue to search for a financial saviour. Its hospitals, including five in south-east Queensland, remain open.

Further comment has been sought from the health minister.

with Cameron Atfield

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