New Bundaberg Hospital business case submitted to State Government

The next steps for Bundaberg’s new hospital have been revealed after the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service submitted a detailed business case to the government. DETAILS HERE.

It’s been dubbed as one of the biggest projects in the Bundaberg region’s history and it’s another step closer to fruition.

The detailed business case for Bundaberg’s new hospital has been submitted to the State Government for review.

The business case will help the Queensland Government make informed decisions about the future design, staging and funding of the project, to be built on a new site.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a 60ha block of land on the Ring Rd near Kay McDuff Drive as the preferred site for the new hospital during a visit to Bundaberg in July last year.

Concept designs for a proposed new hospital in Bundaberg.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said the project was about future-proofing the public healthcare system to better meet the changing and growing needs of Wide Bay residents.

“It will mean increased access to health services, the ability to treat more complex cases and manage higher patient numbers along with the introduction of new services,” she said.

“The project will also provide a significant boost to the local economy, not only with the provision of jobs during construction and additional clinical and support services once the proposed new hospital is open, but also broader flow-on economic benefits that are delivered to the entire Wide Bay region.

“While the DBC progresses through its review process, a further $15 million is identified in the state budget papers for the purchase of the preferred site for the proposed redevelopment and associated project costs to enable detailed site planning in preparation for the first stage of the project.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, WBHHS board chair Peta Jamieson and chief executive Debbie Carroll at the preferred site for the new Bundaberg Hospital.

The state government first announced funding for the project during the 2017 State Election campaign, where Ms Palaszczuk said $3 million would go towards a business case for a new or substantially refurbished hospital.

The Premier then gave a new Level 5 Bundaberg hospital the green light in 2019, after the government reviewed a preliminary business case.

A Level 5 hospital would include all the above and manage all but the most highly complex patients and procedures.

It would also act as referral service for all but the most complex service needs, which may mean highly complex, high-risk patients require transfer or referral to a Level 6 service.

It has strong university affiliations and major teaching with some research commitments in both local and multi-centre research.