Health Minister Yvette D’Ath responds to calls for Toowoomba Hospital fast-track

Some of Toowoomba’s political and business leaders made a call to the State Government to fast-track the $1.8bn new hospital at Baillie Henderson. Now the health minister has responded.

Artist impressions of the new Toowoomba Hospital at the site of the old Baillie Henderson Hospital. Photo: Supplied.

Queensland’s Health Minister says the State Government is still working on detailed designs for a new Toowoomba Hospital, but has yet to outline when the project would be funded.

Yvette D’Ath’s comments come after the city’s political and economic leaders called on the government to fast-track the new hospital.

If funding for the new hospital was announced tomorrow, it would take several years for the facility to be completed, a fact mayor Paul Antonio headlined in his advocacy in Saturday’s Chronicle.

Mr Antonio cited the region’s strong contributions to the Queensland economy and existing capacity issues at the city’s three main hospitals.

Ms D’Ath said she understood the need for a new hospital, which would go at a vacant block of land east of Baillie Henderson Hospital.

She also highlighted the government’s establishment of a $2bn Hospital Building Fund to support major redevelopment projects.

“Detailed design is underway for a new Toowoomba hospital,” Ms D’Ath said in a statement.

“The Baillie Henderson in Toowoomba North is our preferred site and master planning continues.

“There has been wide ranging stakeholder engagement with support throughout the community and by staff.

“Our $2 billion Hospital Building Fund allows us the ability to draw forward key capital funding when we need it to start the construction of major developments, like Toowoomba Hospital.

Local leaders, including Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s Ali Davenport, have pointed out the Hospital Building Fund does not feature specific cash for the Baillie Henderson project.

Ms D’Ath said the government had announced nearly $6m in the latest budget towards the $42m Toowoomba Day Surgery Theatre project at the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus.

“This project will make a major difference to supporting the health services that Toowoomba needs,” she said.

Darling Downs Health completed the business case for a new hospital last year, with the project expected to create 4000 extra jobs.

Originally published as Health Minister Yvette D’Ath responds to calls for Toowoomba Hospital fast-track