Premier reveals plans for $1.2 billion Bundaberg Hospital

The Premier has arrived in town to talk up plans for Bundaberg’s new “world-class” hospital but one MP claims the project is a ‘diminished’ version of what was first flagged. VIDEO.

The Queensland Premier has promised a planned “world-class health facility” at Bundaberg will become a reality.

A week on from her government’s $1.2billion state budget pledge, Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke to reporters outside Bundaberg Base Hospital on Tuesday morning.

“I said we would deliver a new hospital, and we will,” the Premier said.

“It’s my government’s commitment to the people of Queensland that healthcare is really important and that’s why we have invested so much this year.”

The long-awaited project is expected to deliver 2,887 construction jobs with off-site early works to begin at the end of 2022 and onsite construction to begin in early 2023.

“It will deliver 121 more beds, and of course we are doing the expansion of Hervey Bay hospital as well.”

The Premier referred to a recent discussion with the Prime Minister where she called for more medical training to be available for Queenslanders so the new hospital would have the opportunity to employ homegrown and educated health care workers.

The Premier said Level 5 services would be integrated into the new build.

“So far the planning and consultation has indicated more complex care will be provided in emergency medicine, intensive care, renal medicine, general medical and surgical services and other special needs such as endocrinology and gastroenterology,” she said.

The Queensland Premier addresses media outside of the Bundaberg Base Hospital

Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said the this new funding would support the existing hospital and the emergency department would receive an expansion.

“We will increase our surgical theatres as well as increase our level of capacity for services that our community needs so greatly,” he said

“This will be a world-class health facility for world-class health staff who do such a fantastic job especially over the Covid period.”

Asked about the huge wait-times locals dealt with when trying to get care at the Bundaberg Base Hospital, the Premier said a shift in care was required.

“We are speaking with the Prime Minister, as this is a national issue that is happening right across the country,” she said.

“In every hospital in the state there are people who should be in aged care homes or should be in disability homes.

“The number one issue we are looking at is transferring those people out to free up beds.”

Asked whether funds needed for the hospital would be coming from new state mining royalties announced, the Premier said no and insisted the future of the resources industry would not impact the future of the hospital and its construction.

“It’s a combination of consolidated revenue and all different revenue sources that go into our hospital and health plan,” she said

“The hospital is absolutely guaranteed, it’s guaranteed in the budget, it’s going ahead.”

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said on Tuesday “when we are actually getting it (the new hospital) is still a bit of a mystery, there’s no community consultation being discussed”.

MP Bennett said it was more about campaign promises than any real change for the region.

“It’s a lot of words, a lot of big figures that have clearly, I believe, mislead the people of Bundaberg. What we were promised in 2019 was a brand-new Level 5 hospital, here we are talking about something completely diminished.”

The hospital funding also comes after two separate incidents involving alleged nurse malpractice at the current site.

When asked about these issues, on the back of new claims that the issue is deeper than reported, the Premier handed the microphone to Mr Smith who said evidence needed to be brought forward.

“If he [LNP Member for Burnett] has the evidence, he needs to go to the health Minister, and to go to the police with that evidence,” he said

“If there are any allegations that are sustained, the Palaszczuk Government and the Wide Bay Health Service will always make sure that the patients come first and that the health of our staff comes first.”

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson supported today’s new announcements.

“It will provide a substantial boost to the local economy, not only with the provision of construction jobs and additional clinical and support services once the new hospital is open, but also broader flow-on economic benefits that are delivered to the region,” she said in a statement.

While in Bundaberg, the Premier also encouraged Queenslanders to take advantage of the government‘s free flu shots.

“Take the flu seriously this season,” she said.

“We have a number of people at the moment in hospital with influenza, there’s 121 around the state and five people in the ICU.”

Originally published as Premier reveals plans for $1.2 billion Bundaberg Hospital