Bundaberg’s Friendly Society Private Hospital offered land by Gladstone Regional Council to boost health access in Port City

A private hospital will consider building a new facility in Gladstone, as well as sending specialists and a shuttle bus from Bundaberg, as the local MP made scathing comments about the Mater Hospital’s departure. Full story.

Gladstone’s council has offered up land to bring a private hospital back to the city as a shortage of healthcare workers and services continues to plague the region.

Gladstone Regional Council has engaged Bundaberg-based private provider, Friendly Society Private Hospital, and offered them land to build a new facility in the Port City.

According to Mayor Matt Burnett, the private provider — known as Friendlies — are “looking seriously” at Gladstone as the location for a new hospital.

Bundaberg-based Friendly Society Private Hospital are seriously considering building a facility at Gladstone, according to the local mayor. Picture: News Corp Australia

“We said to them, look, we’ll do whatever we can as a local government to get you here, here’s a piece of land,” Mr Burnett said.

“And if you like it, it’s already zoned health, it’s near the (Gladstone) hospital so go have a look at it,” he said.

Gladstone has been without a private hospital since the Mater Hospital facility was purchased by the Queensland Government in 2020.

Gladstone Regional Council Mayor, Matt Burnett at the launch of the Gladstone Region Economic Transition Roadmap, with The Next Economy CEO, Dr Amanda Cahill. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Friendlies CEO, Simone Finch confirmed she had met with Gladstone representatives and said the potential donation of land by Council was a “positive first step”.

“We’re aware there’s a need for more health services in all parts of the Gladstone Region,” Ms Finch said.

“The possibility to build a private hospital or clinic is an interesting idea which we’re happy to consider if there is demonstrated community support and financial backing,” she said.

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN Chief Executive Officer Simone Finch

In the meantime, Ms Finch said Friendlies are exploring whether they could help fulfill Gladstone’s health needs by sending specialists to visit the region as well as providing a shuttle service to Bundaberg for day surgery patients.

She met with medical professionals and community representative to help inform The Friendlies strategic plan, which is expected to be released early next year.

It comes as Gladstone’s maternity unit remains on bypass, with the facility only able to deliver planned C-sections with all other expectant mothers diverted to Rockhampton.

Amid growing criticism of why the Queensland Government purchased the Mater Hospital in 2020, Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher has set the record straight.

Gladstone Hospital’s maternity unit has been impacted by unscheduled leave and nationwide shortages of specialists as a full-bypass was declared back in July. Picture: Nilsson Jones

“You gotta (sic) remember, a private provider of health in Gladstone vacated the building, and they not only vacated the building but they ripped everything out of the hospital,” Mr Butcher said.

“They even took the plants out of the garden, that’s how much they just disrespected the Gladstone community,” he said.

Mr Butcher said Mater went to the market at the time to find another private provider, but no one was interested.

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher standing outside the GEA conference speaking on the ongoing issues as the Gladstone Hospital maternity unit remains on bypass. Picture: Supplied (CH7 CQ)

“If we didn’t do anything, if we didn’t act under Steven Miles (then Health Minister), that would be sitting there, empty and going to rack and ruin.”

Mr Butcher said the government will soon announce the completion of major “state of the art” upgrades to theatres within the Gladstone Hospital West Wing (former Mater) which will see perioperative services relocated from the Gladstone Hospital.

Originally published as Bundaberg’s Friendly Society Private Hospital offered land by Gladstone Regional Council to boost health access in Port City