Gympie ‘to benefit’ from more hospital beds at Nambour, Sunshine Coast University Hospital

The health service which oversees the Gympie Hospital has responded to concerns about whether local resourcing can meet the demands of an ageing, growing population.

The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has stopped short of rejecting claims from MP Tony Perrett that the Gympie region is in need of a new public hospital.

The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has stopped short of rejecting claims from MP Tony Perrett that the Gympie region is in need of a new public hospital.

In responding to Mr Perrett’s calls for planning to begin for a new hospital, a spokesperson for the SCHHS said on Friday the hospital would have had about $2 million spent on it by the end of this financial year, and a detailed business case would be drawn up in the next five years for infrastructure works at the Gympie Hospital.

Gympie residents would also benefit from “our plans to expand bed capacity and services at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the Nambour General Hospital redevelopment”, the spokesperson said.

“For more than 150 years, Gympie Hospital has provided care to the local community and the hospital continues to play an important role in the network of facilities within Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service,” they said.

“SCHHS is committed to ensuring residents in the Gympie region have access to the healthcare they need.

“In the financial year 2020-2021, SCHHS invested $1.2 million in Gympie Hospital’s facilities, with a further $185,000 being spent to date this financial year. An additional $1.8 million will be spent by the end of this financial year.

“Our aim is to provide more care closer to home, so fewer residents need to travel to Brisbane for care. Gympie Hospital provides a comprehensive range of services for locals including birthing, surgical and medical services, paediatric inpatient and outpatient, cancer care, renal dialysis, palliative care, rehabilitation and stroke services; as well as a range of community-based and mental health adult and child services.

“Residents in the Gympie region will also benefit from our plans to expand bed capacity and services at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the Nambour General Hospital redevelopment.

“The Master Clinical Services Plan provides us with roadmap with a 10-year outlook for the delivery of health services for the Sunshine Coast and Gympie communities. The plan details our priorities to be delivered in the next five years, including development of a detailed business case for infrastructure works at Gympie Hospital.

“The Master Clinical Services Plan will be continually reviewed to ensure we remain on the right path for our future.”