Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announces deadline on Proserpine Hospital upgrades

The Health Minister has announced a deadline for the long awaited project of delivering kidney dialysis services to a small Whitsundays town.

The Health Minister has announced a deadline for a long-awaited project of delivering kidney dialysis services to Proserpine. Picture: Contributed

The Health Minister has announced a deadline for a long-awaited project of delivering kidney dialysis services to Proserpine.

Four of the 33 renal dialysis treatment spaces promised by the Queensland government across regional Queensland will be delivered at Proserpine Hospital by early 2025.

It is part of an $8m commitment in the 2022-2023 budget to refurbish the hospital’s Acute Primary Care Clinic, which includes the clinical assimilation training area, the clinical assessment rooms and management office space.

The APCC is expected to be finalised by 2026.

So far kidney patients have had to travel to Mackay to receive treatment, including Navio Zeglio – the Proserpine resident that would do the drive down every Wednesday for his wife’s treatment.

The Midge Point couple had launched a petition in June 2020 urging the government to commit to building new renal services closer to home.

Then Health Minister Steven Miles responded with an $11m pledge including a $6m boost to refurbish Mackay’s community mental health service and $5m to upgrade Proserpine Hospital’s Acute Primary Care Clinic.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said four renal dialysis chairs will be delivered and operational at the Proserpine Hospital by 2025. Picture: Contributed

But since that commitment, the hospital has not yet been upgraded.

Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman said significant remediation works on the building had to be completed to support the delivery of the project including building an offsite facility to relocate critical services.

“While the project at Proserpine Hospital is taking longer than anticipated, each step has allowed us to maintain service delivery as we work to deliver these essential upgrades,” Ms Fentiman said.

Midge Point resident Navio Zeglio in June 2020. Picture: Contributed

“We are committed to providing care closer to home for Queenslanders and know the burden is significant for those needing to travel for dialysis treatments several times a week.”

She said the works were also delayed as the hospital was a heritage building and there were additional rules the Queensland Heritage Act 2009 for works undertaken.

An offsite facility in Herbert St is currently under construction to support the relocation of Community and Mental Health Services from the site and ensure that continuity of service can be maintained.

“I look forward to residents accessing these new and enhanced services over the coming years,” Ms Fentiman said.