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Mater Hospital Mackay surgery theatres get $7.3m upgrade

As healthcare struggles to keep up with growth, a new expansion of operating theatres will increase access to surgeries meaning fewer patients will have to travel for the care they need.

Mater Private Hospital, Willetts Rd, Mackay
Mater Private Hospital, Willetts Rd, Mackay

A multimillion-dollar perioperative theatre expansion will give North Queensland patients greater access to both common and emergency surgeries.

A Mater Private Hospital spokesman announced the Mackay hospital would invest $7.3m on refurbishing and expanding its perioperative theatres which presently cater for 12,000 procedures each year.

The project includes a redesign of the pre-operative, recovery and patient amenity zones as well as new sterile storage areas.

Mater Mackay perioperative services manager Hazel Douglas said the new operating theatre and improved layout would allow more patients to stay in their hometown.

“Mackay and the surrounding regions are growing,” Ms Douglas said.

“This is an opportunity to ensure we have the capacity to treat people here in the region, rather than patients having to seek support further afield in Townsville or Brisbane.”

Mater Mackay executive officer Elizabeth Thomas said they were anticipating a significant rise in the number of surgeries following the expansion.

Mackay Mater Hospital executive officer Elizabeth Thomas.
Mackay Mater Hospital executive officer Elizabeth Thomas.

“Five current perioperative theatres are used by 34 doctors of varying specialties,” Ms Thomas said.

“Our facility (has) expand(ed) services to complement our most common procedures in orthopaedics, gynaecology, ear nose and throat, and general surgery with the introduction of perioperative robots.”

The Mater also caters for bariatric, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oral, and maxillofacial surgeries.

Work on the new theatre is expected to start in 2023 and be ready for surgery mid-2023.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/community/mater-hospital-mackay-surgery-theatres-get-73m-upgrade/news-story/1d068438bbdfd1ba0658654976d2d457