The first round of works begins for Level 5 Bundaberg Hospital

As work started on Bundaberg’s long-awaited “Level Five” hospital, the state health minister’s celebratory photo op was hampered by questions about ongoing complaints at the existing site.

Land in Svensson Heights was cleared to make way for the new hospital.

Early works have officially begun on the controversial new Level Five Bundaberg Hospital, with an access road marking the first phase of construction.

Queensland’s Minister for Health Yvette D’Ath joined Bundaberg MP Tom Smith MP and WBHH Board Chair Peta Jamieson at the Svensson Heights site for the announcement on Wednesday.

“I’m pleased to announce that local contractor, RoadTek Wide Bay, will deliver these works to extend Johanna Boulevard,” Ms D’Ath said

“Motorists travelling in the area will start to see a hive of activity occurring in the coming months including clearing and earthworks to construct the new sealed access road.”

The new hospital will provide 121 new beds to Bundaberg, an increase in bed capacity for the region of nearly 50 per cent.

With the hospital not to be completed until 2027, the new site will provide approximately 2,887 jobs during the construction period.

However, at Wednesday’s media call, buzz surrounding what the new hospital would deliver was drowned by questions surrounding the existing care of current patients in the Wide Bay health system.

Minister D’Ath said people need to consider if their health issues can be handled by a GP before heading to the hospital.

Minister D’Ath addresses wait times at Bundaberg Base Hospital

As patients complaints rise over wait times and care at the Bundaberg Base Hospital, Minister D’Ath said immediate measures were being taken to fix the issues.

“We are working across the system in new innovative ways to support people in discharge and the emergency department to direct people away from the hospital system” she said.

With many Bundaberg and Burnett residents struggling to access a GP, Minister D’Ath said she is working with the Commonwealth to change how patients access Medicare.

“If someone can’t get into a GP, there’s one place they go and that’s our emergency centres,” she said.

The WBHHS board will not step down a petition gains signatures said board.

Hospital board chief responds to petition calling for resignation

A patient advocate run petition calling for the resignation of the WBHHS board has amassed more than 700 signatures within a week but board chair Peta Jamieson said she has no plans to step down.

“We are accountable to the Minister, and we are getting on delivering for the community as we should,” she said, adding all complaints were reviewed in due process and improvements made as required.

“That’s my responsibility as the board and that’s what I will continue to do on behalf of the community I live in,” she said.

Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith called for a public apology.

‘Nurse sitting in her car crying’: Bundy MP hits back at Opposition attack

It has been a week since the LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett spoke up on behalf of patients who brought forward claims of improper care at the hands of the hospital.

Claims including patients not being fed during busy periods and being discharged without receiving care appropriate to injuries and illness were flagged.

Mr Smith said not only were these claims baseless, they were also harming the hospital and health workers who were working hard for the community.

“When a nurse is sitting in her car crying because she’s afraid to go into her workplace, that is not okay,” he said, calling for Mr Bennett to apologise to workers.

“The LNP want to cause fear to our health workers and put out false allegations, the Palaszczuk Government is building new hospitals.”

The new hospital will offer split services with the existing base hospital during the transition period.

Originally published as The first round of works begins for Level 5 Bundaberg Hospital