More than 300 new beds for Redcliffe’s hospitals to combat growing demand for healthcare

As demand for health services grows across the state, one pocket of Moreton Bay is poised to gain more than 300 new beds across two hospitals as part of $1.17 billion-worth of expansions. HERE’S WHEN

A growing demand for medical services in Redcliffe has resulted in a combined $1.17 billion investment in both the local private and public healthcare sectors.

In total the expansions will result in more than 300 extra hospital beds across both facilities.

Expansion plans for Peninsula Private Hospital in Kippa-Ring have been revealed after a sale-leaseback deal was inked for the 70-bed facility north of Brisbane.

Canadian property investors NorthWest Healthcare Properties has acquired ownership of the hospital and plans to significantly expand the hospital with further development, with a total combined investment of up to $110 million.

The expansion includes internal refurbishment and significant further development, including additional theatres and procedure rooms, on surplus land surrounding the existing facility.

Healthscope will continue to operate the facility, which is an acute surgical and rehabilitation hospital, with two theatres and one procedure room.

Construction is expected to start early next year and the new facilities are expected to be fully operational by late 2024.

NorthWest Healthcare Properties has acquired ownership of the Peninsula Private Hospital. Picture: Contributed

“In this area of Brisbane, there is strong demand for Peninsula Private’s existing services that exceeds the capacity of its current infrastructure, and we look forward to expanding the surgical and medical service offering to the local community,” NorthWest executive director Richard Roos said.

“The opportunity to acquire the Peninsula Private Hospital facility and the site it sits on was highly appealing for NorthWest, given the quality of the hospital and its catchment in conjunction with the compelling opportunities to further upgrade the facility and expand its existing services through onsite development, as well as the opportunity to extend our long-held partnership with Healthscope.

“Long-term ownership and partnerships like this are at the core of NorthWest’s business model and we look forward to enhancing Peninsula Private jointly with Healthscope.”

The Peninsula Private Hospital currently boasts two theatres and one procedure room. Picture: File

In July the Queensland Government announced $1.06 billion to deliver a major expansion of the Redcliffe Hospital, as part of the largest investment in new and expanded hospitals and new beds in Queensland’s history.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the expansion would boost the hospital’s bed base by around 204 beds and include: a new clinical services building, new ambulatory care building, refurbishment of the existing hospital to deliver additional capacity across both clinical facility support services, additional operating theatres, Emergency Department treatment spaces, endoscopy rooms, birthing suites, outpatient consult rooms, diagnostic rooms, and expansion of medical imaging, pharmacy and pathology areas.

It is expected that the new ambulatory care building will be operational in the second half of 2026, the new clinical services building will be operational in the second half of 2027, and the refurbishment of the existing hospital will be completed and operational in the second half of 2028.

The Redcliffe Hospital’s bed base will increase by 204 beds as part of the hospital’s $1.06 billion expansion. Picture: Renae Droop

A Queensland Health spokesperson confirmed the time frame for all expansion works remains on schedule.

“The project is currently finalising the concept designs in preparation of moving into the delivery phase commencing with market engagement, tendering and appointment of a builder by mid-2023 so that main construction works can commence in mid-2024,” spokesperson said.

“The new clinical services building and refurbished existing buildings will be ready for additional capacity to be operational from the second half of 2028.

“The design team will have updated concept designs for the new clinical services building by the end of 2022.”

The works will create over 2,500 jobs during construction.