Health Minister blames ‘range of issues’ for health facility delay
Standing in a vacant lot where a $70m health facility was due to open this month the Health Minister has denied a 24-month delay to the project has been an embarrassment to her department. FIND OUT WHEN IT WILL BE OPENED
Cairns
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STANDING in a vacant lot where a $70m mental health facility was due to open this month Queensland’s Health Minister has denied a 24-month delay to the project has been an embarrassment to her department.
Hutchinson Builders Cairns have been awarded the contract to build the 53-bed facility, which will be a marginal increase on the 48 bed capacity of the old unit demolished in September 2020.
Originally set for completion in February 2022, the unit is now expected to finish construction in 2023 and open early in 2024.
Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath from a sod turning ceremony on Wednesday, denied the project had not been made a priority.
“Nothing’s been put on the backburner,” she said.
“We’ve been working through a range of issues including extensive consultation to make sure we get the planning right for this facility.
“Coming into an ED when you’re having a mental health episode is not the best environment.
“But Covid has certainly led to delays in a lot of our planning as well.
“I’m just glad we’ve got to this point now (and) we have the contract awarded.”
Ms D’Ath said the three storey mental health facility will deliver 10 mental health ICU beds and 43 beds for acute mental health patients.
When complete, the new unit will allow 32 surgical beds to come online as mental health patients move from an interim facility to the new building.
A five-bed capacity increase given a $70m investment has been quietly criticised by hospital staff.
Cairns Hospital Mental Health Services clinical director Dr Mike Tervit said greater capacity was always welcomed.
“It’s always nice to have more beds but we also understand that a lot of the work we do is in the community,” he said.
“It’s not just about the beds. It’s about the infrastructure on first, second and third floor to support access and centralised intake service.
“It’s not an insignificant investment and vitally important, and five beds is a lot of beds.”
Mr Tervit said the newest facility in the region will deliver the very best level of care that will extend to remote Cape York patients.
The mental health boss said a new youth alcohol and drug facility in Edmonton is expected to come online within 12-18 months.
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