$4 million committed to a Gold Coast north hospital masterplan

The state opposition has committed to funding a masterplan to explore where a new Gold Coast Hospital will be built in the city’s north.

A MASTERPLAN for a hospital to be built on the northern Gold Coast has been announced by the state opposition in the lead up to the election.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington today announced $4 million to fund a masterplan for a ‘state-of-the-art’ hospital and health precinct for the northern Gold Coast as part of her plan to ‘Get Queensland Working Again’.

Leader of the Opposition Deb Frecklington. Pics Tara Croser.

Ms Frecklington said the plan would ensure the rapidly increasing population in the region was matched by a significant investment in healthcare and a ‘shovel ready’ hospital.

“Our vision is for locals to easily access medical services at the health precinct like dental, mental health, dialysis, imaging, pathology, chemotherapy and pharmacy,” Ms Frecklington said.

“The masterplan will also guide the provision of additional hospital beds for the community, slash elective surgery wait times on the Gold Coast and establish additional step-up and step-down mental health care.”

It is not yet known how much would be committed to build the hospital once the masterplan is completed.

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The need for a hospital or health precinct in the northern corridor of the Gold Coast has long been acknowledged by health professionals and local LNP member for Coomera Micheal Crandon, who has pushed the issue in a series of petitions and letters.

The health service who had previously completed a master plan for the region, highlighted planning work for a health facility in the area to meet the needs of the population growth in north, which could attend to minor injuries, day patients and other services.

In the Gold Coast Health Service plan for 2016-2026, the health service said a health facility “would act as a “spoke” to the two major hospitals providing ambulatory and subacute care closer to people’s homes.”

Land in Coomera is currently owned by the State Government, however no work has taken place.

Locals in the northern Gold Coast may not have to travel to the Gold Coast University Hospital at Parkwood or Logan hospital in the future. Picture Mike Batterham

Ms Frecklington said if elected the land will be considered as a potential location but the masterplan process will identify the ideal location of the hospital.

LNP Shadow Minister Health Ros Bates said a hospital plans had come too late.

“Nurses, doctors and paramedics at the Gold Coast University Hospital and Logan Hospital are stretched to breaking point,” Ms Bates said.

“Hospitals are bursting at the seams and ambulance ramping is skyrocketing because the Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed to plan.”

LNP MP for Coomera Michael Crandon said the hospital and health precinct would be a

game-changer for the region.

 “Locals should be able to access the full spectrum of health services here on the

northern Gold Coast,” he said. 

“A new hospital is one of the missing pieces this region really needs to set itself up for a

strong future.”

Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said Gold Coast Health already has a master plan - which was completed last year.

“We know the LNPs record when it comes to healthcare. They cut 57 frontline health staff from across the Gold Coast when they were in government,” she said.

“The LNP have been to two elections without committing funding to a single bed – that’s five years without committing to a single health project.”

“The Palaszczuk Government is investing in Queensland’s plan to unite and recover. We’ve invested a record $1.575 billion for the Gold Coast HHS in 2019/20 - $81 million more than the year before.”

“We’ve hired 1,129 more nurses and midwives, 304 more doctors and 231 more health professionals on the Gold Coast since 2015.”

“We will continuing investing in health services of the Gold Coast region.”