Rockhampton Hospital plans, cardiac unit progress despite cost blowout

The new LNP Government has offered an update on planned upgrades to Rockhampton Hospital following revelations of a major cost blowout.

The new LNP Government has confirmed it will plough ahead with planned upgrades to Rockhampton Hospital alongside its own local health election commitments, despite the discovery of a major cost blowout.

The new LNP Government has confirmed it will plough ahead with planned upgrades to Rockhampton Hospital, despite the discovery of a major cost blowout.

Work will continue on the cardiac hybrid theatre and they will deliver on their pledge to expand mental health services in Rockhampton, with an extra nine beds for the hospital’s adult mental health unit and a new six-bed youth Step Up Step Down facility.

Both the cardiac hybrid theatre and the adult mental health facility were announced by the previous State Government.

Infrastructure specialist Sam Sangster, speaking during a health infrastructure event in Brisbane, was commissioned with reviewing Queensland Health’s capital budget, including Rockhampton projects. Picture: Tertius Pickard

An independent review of Queensland Health’s infrastructure program by specialist Sam Sangster found the previous government cut corners and announced hospital projects without business cases.

The Sangster Review has determined many of the projects were undeliverable because of flawed financial planning.

In Rockhampton, the new cardiac theatre was originally meant to cost $28.5 million but will now cost $34.5 million, a blowout of $6 million.

The theatre and adult mental health facility are set to be delivered by 2026.

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland says master planning is underway to fix problems with the Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department.

Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland confirmed work on a master plan for the redevelopment of the Rockhampton Hospital and planning for the Step Up Step Down youth mental health facility would continue.

“I cannot begin to overestimate what that will mean to those patients who are currently doing massive journey’s down south to have treatments for stents and similar things,” she said.

“I am looking forward to the delivery of that program.”

There are no concrete plans in place at this stage for the Emergency Department described last year by LNP MP Ros Bates, a former nurse, as a “war zone.”

LNP MP Ros Bates last year described Rockhampton Hospital’s emergency department as a “war zone”. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Ms Kirkland said there were discussions underway to address the problems, which include being undersized and outdated, and updates on the plans would be available in the coming weeks.

“I am acutely aware… of the deficiencies and the issues being experienced in our Emergency Department at Rockhampton Base Hospital,” Ms Kirkland said.

“The Emergency Department needs to be master planned properly and that is what we are doing.”

Ms Kirkland said the State Government was ensuring health expansion plans were properly executed.

“We’re going to take our time with the planning, we are going to make sure we properly resource every project,” said.

“It is important when planning the expansion of our health facilities that we make sure we consult with local clinicians and the local priorities and needs.”

Labor Federal Government Education Minister Jason Clare committed $80 million in funding for a Health Sciences Academy during a press conference at Rockhampton CQUniversity medical training labs with Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland on March 26, 2025.

Ms Kirkland said community leaders and other stakeholders had been calling out for a mental health facility for young people for the past 20 years.

The government has also committed to delivering expanded hospital support services at the vacated CQUniversity city campus and the $95 million Queensland Academy of Health Sciences to fast-track high school students into health careers.

“(The academy is) the first of its kind outside of south-east Queensland and will deliver on one of the biggest needs and biggest priorities right here in Central Queensland which is workforce,” she said.

“We know that 70 per cent of those who study in the regions stay in the regions.”

Plans are underway for the redevelopment of Gladstone Hospital. Picture: Nilsson Jones

The government has further pledged to planning for the redevelopment of Gladstone Hospital, partial replacement of the Biloela Hospital, with reinstated birthing services and theatre refurbishment, ew and upgraded staff accommodation at Biloela Hospital, Longreach Hospital and Winton Multipurpose Health Centre, and an expansion of the aged care service at Moura.