Hospital expansion and specialist surgery clinic to transform Cleveland into major health hub

A southern bayside suburb is on the development map to become a major health hub so the sick and elderly will no longer have to travel into Brisbane for lifesaving treatment.

The planned Cleveland Health hub will be near two hospitals in Cleveland and other health facilities.

A southern bayside suburb is being engineered as one of the state’s leading health hubs with plans unveiled this month for a state-of-the-art surgical centre along with a $150 million expansion of Cleveland’s hospital and mental health facilities.

Redland residents needing surgery will not have to travel into Brisbane for procedures after Ramsay Health opens its $16 million surgical centre in Cleveland in 2025.

The centre will include three purpose-built surgical theatres and include doctors specialising in ophthalmology, orthopaedics, general surgery, endoscopy, ear-nose-and-throat, urology, plastic surgery and gynaecology.

Ramsay Surgical Centres chief executive Claire Thurwood said the centre would be designed along similar lines to the world-class centre at Greenslopes Hospital.

“It will focus on day surgery, working with some of Queensland’s leading doctors and using advanced technology to ensure the best possible care for our patients,” she said.

“This centre will offer a new alternative for privately-insured patients and an affordable option for self-insured patients.

“For Redland residents, this should take some of the stress out of their surgeries, knowing they’re close to home and only have a short commute following their procedure.”

Robin’s Corner will be levelled to make way for the new complex which will include state-of-the-art surgical suites. Picture: Judith Kerr

Construction of the day surgery facility started this month at the Middle St site, less than 4km from Redland Hospital, which is also undergoing a major transformation to become part of the southside health hub.

Also in the area, less than 2km from Redland Hospital and 2km from the new surgical centre, is the site of a new private hospital and research hub designed to explore the elixir of life and ageing.

Plans include a five-storey private hospital to be built in a paddock once used for sheep grazing with 1000 underground car parks, medical suites, an aged care facility and a research hub.

Developers Cleveland Rural, which trades as Hub 68, held public consultation about the plans for the private hospital in 2021.

At the public hospital, also in Cleveland, a 28-bed modular facility is under construction near the recently opened seven-storey carpark.

The $25 million facility is expected to be opened before Christmas.

Redland Hospital’s $25 million Modular Ward will provide an additional 28 beds and is expected to open before Christmas. Picture: Judith Kerr

Construction of the hospital’s new mental health facility has also started with demolition of the former mental health facility at the Weippin St site kicking off this month.

Designers said the mental health facility, the first stage of the hospital’s next expansion phase, would unlock the site for future development.

Stage 2 of the hospital expansion has an approved initial budget of $150 million with construction expected to start in 2025.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said consultants had been hired to complete detailed layout designs to give stakeholders a better idea of the facility’s overall structure and functionality.

Planning requirements will also be addressed ahead of a tender release.

“I am advised that further information in relation to expected time frames for practical completion and any changes to original budget estimates will be known following the award of the tender,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The main works construction contract is subject to an active tender process, which is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.”

Ms Fentiman said construction timelines would be made public.

The Redland Hospital Stage 1 Expansion project has an approved initial budget of $62 million, which includes $32 million from the state and $30 million from the federal government.

Originally published as Hospital expansion and specialist surgery clinic to transform Cleveland into major health hub