New 24-bed medical ward to be built at Hervey Bay Hospital

A 24-bed ‘modular’ ward will be built at the Hervey Bay Hospital to help meet the needs of a growing population.

A new medical ward will be constructed at Hervey Bay Hospital.

A new 24-bed modular medical ward is set to be constructed at Hervey Bay Hospital as the state government prepares for the community to grow by about 20 per cent in the next decade.

The new ward will operate as a general medical ward and will connect to the main building by an enclosed walkway to the hospital’s surgical ward, improving patient flow.

An additional 60 full-time staff including doctors, nurses, allied health and operational workers will be employed.

Procurement is underway for a contractor to design and build the modules off-site before being transported and installed on the hospital grounds.

The new modular medical ward will complement the ongoing Hervey Bay Hospital expansion project, which will see shell space on level 2 redeveloped to accommodate a 25-bed inpatient ward and a 10-bed intensive care unit, as well as construction of a new rooftop helipad.

These two projects will deliver an additional 59 beds for the community.

The anticipated completion date is by the end of 2024, pending procurement outcomes, site investigations and weather conditions.

Hervey Bay Hospital’s emergency department.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the new facilities would continue to deliver world-class healthcare for the Hervey Bay community close to home for years to come.

“This is part of the Miles government’s record-breaking $14 billion Health Big Build which is delivering more beds, more healthcare and more local jobs,” she said.

“I want to thank our hardworking health heroes who are saving lives and providing compassionate care to the Fraser Coast community every day.

“It’s exciting to see an additional 60 health workers will join their team once the new ward is operational.

“With the Fraser Coast set to grow by thousands over the coming years, our government is absolutely committed to building the healthcare facilities needed now and into the future.”

Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari said the rapidly growing population in the city meant the hospital needed more beds and staff.

“The new 24-bed modular medical ward will ensure we continue to meet growing demand for healthcare services in the region for years to come,” he said.

“It will improve flow between the emergency department and the wards, further supporting our busy hospital and hardworking health heroes.

“As part of the new ward, we’re also funding an additional 60 positions for healthcare workers which means 60 additional opportunities to work at our fantastic hospital.”

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Debbie Carroll said by using a modular design the hospital could have a fully staffed ward up and running much faster than relying on traditional onsite construction.

“The modular building is constructed offsite and then delivered to the hospital grounds, which reduces impact on patients, staff and parking.

“These 24 extra beds will mean that we can move people from the emergency department into a ward for treatment more quickly.

“This reduces ED wait times, long stays in emergency, and time spent waiting to transfer from an ambulance.”

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Originally published as New 24-bed medical ward to be built at Hervey Bay Hospital