New Sarina Hospital opened by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman
The new “state-of-the-art” Sarina Hospital has been officially opened by the Health Minister, who committed millions to further development for patients unwilling or unable to travel for care.
Mackay
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Sarina’s new “state-of-the-art” hospital has been officially opened by the minister as further funding was promised to keep improving rural healthcare.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman was in town to celebrate the long-awaited $31.5m Sarina Hospital at its new location on 47 Brewers Road.
The 19-bed facility includes an expanded emergency department, larger rooms, and a new rehabilitation gym.
Yet Ms Fentiman said a further $10.4 million was put aside to redevelop the former building at 1 Hospital St as a long-stay health facility, with work set to begin in May 2024 and finished by mid-2025.
“I’m thrilled this new state-of-the-art hospital has opened today and excited to see the former site be redeveloped to provide more healthcare for the region,” she said.
“This new modern hospital means less people will have to travel to the Mackay Base Hospital to receive treatment.
“The new Sarina Hospital and redevelopment of the former site as a long-stay facility are in addition to our expansion of the Mackay Base Hospital – a landmark project to meet the healthcare needs of the community for generations to come.”
The Health Minister also visited Mackay Base Hospital alongside Premier Steven Miles and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert to turn the first sod on the $250 million hospital expansion starting construction.
The new Sarina Hospital is also the first rural hospital in Queensland to be ‘born digital’ with the ieMR digital medical system improving patient care with faster, safer, and more accurate record keeping as well as communication with other hospitals.
Mackay Hospital and Health Board Chair Helen Darch called the facility a “transformational project for the people of the Sarina community”.
These projects are part of the Miles Labor Government’s $14 billion Health Big Build which has promised to deliver 3,300 additional hospital beds to Queensland.
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