Hundreds of jobs to be created when $394.6 million Caboolture Hospital redevelopment starts

Up to 350 jobs will be created in Caboolture when this major construction project starts this year. It comes as new details can be revealed about hospital parking and capacity.

An artist's impression of what Caboolture Hospital’s main entrance will look like after the redevelopment.

Work will start soon on the $394.6 million Caboolture Hospital redevelopment which will increase bed numbers about 50 per cent and add a huge new car park.

Lendlease has been appointed as managing contractor for the upgrade which will result in bed numbers rising by 130.

Parking spaces will also increase by more than 500 to about 1640.

The project will also create up to 600 jobs for the region, with 350 workers onsite each day during peak construction periods.

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Health and Ambulance Services Minister Steven Miles said it would deliver a mixture of new buildings and refurbishment of existing facilities, including a new Clinical Services Building and a $41.7 million multistorey car park

“The upgrade includes an enhanced special care nursery and medical day stay unit, medical records facility, pharmacy and pathology, as well as a new main entry, cafe and visitor lounge,” Mr Miles said.

“The Caboolture region is one of the fastest growing regions in the state, which is why it is so important we invest in health infrastructure now to meet an increase in demand down the track.”

Caboolture Hospital executive director and director medical services Dr Lance Le Ray said the new five-storey Clinical Services Building would house a new much-larger emergency department (ED).

Dr Le Ray said it would also mean more beds would be available across a range of services including rehabilitation, palliative care, geriatric evaluation, medical, intensive care and cardiac tyocare.

The total beds that will be available after the upgrade is unclear, with a Metro North Hospital and Health Service spokesman saying numbers “can flex up and down”.

In 2018 there were 260 beds.

State Labor MP for Morayfield Mark Ryan said Caboolture’s population was expected to grow by 51 per cent by 2031 and this was why investment in the hospital was so important.

Design of the Clinical Services Building is progressing as planned with project construction expected to start mid-2020.

The project is due for completion in 2023.