Qld government reveals $2.3m business case for old Gympie Hospital site

Revelations the state government is spending millions on a new business case for the century-old Gympie Hospital muddied the waters around hope for a new health centre in the region.

Labor Health Minister Shannon Fentiman (inset right) revealed $2.3 million is being spent on a business case for the redevelopment of Gympie Hospital in response to a question on notice from Gympie’s LNP MP Tony Perrett seeking more information about the business case, its timeline, and its terms of reference.

Revelations $2.3m is being spent on a business case to redevelop Gympie Hospital have been met with concern by the region’s MP who says the decision only muddies the waters around plans for a needed new health centre.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman revealed the funding Monday, in response to a question on notice from Gympie’s LNP MP Tony Perrett seeking more information about the business case, its timeline, and its terms of reference.

The development of the business case had been announced in October in response to another question on notice.

Ms Fentiman said the funding was part of the government’s 2023-24 budget.

The hospital had been identified as an investment “priority” as part of the government’s 15-year plan to meet the state’s health needs, she said.

The case included “master planning and concept design for the campus”.

Upgrades have already started at the hospital with an $8m overhaul of staff accommodation at the site.

An $8m upgrade to Gympie Hospital’s staff accommodation is underway despite a 2022-2027.

Mr Perrett, who has urged the development of a new hospital in the region to cater for its growth, said the Minister’s answer put the government at odds with its own advice from its 2022-27 Clinical Master Services Plan.

“It said the hospital is too old, too fragmented and spread out, the site too steep and difficult, and the structure of the buildings unable to be upgraded,” Mr Perrett said.

“It said ‘the age and configuration of current built infrastructure does not support contemporary models of care and would be difficult to adapt to physical constraints’.”

He said the lack of clarity was compounded by former health minister advising him in May 2022 there were “no current plans” for a business case on a new hospital.

It was “smoke and mirrors” from a government, designed to “deflect” from ongoing service shortfalls at the hospital, he said.
These included the temporary closure of the Childrens’ Ward in 2021 and the temporary closure of the fracture clinic in 2022 due to staffing issues.

A 2023 report by the Australian Medical Association revealed patients seeking emergency, urgent, or semi-urgent care were failing to be seen in the required time frames.

“I receive regular reports from the community, staff, and patients shocked at the poor state of the facilities,” Mr Perrett said.

“The staff are doing their best to give the highest quality care under challenging conditions.

“The hospital has serviced the community well for decades, but we are a high growth region, and the demands will continue to increase.

“As is usual, the Minister’s response provides no clarity.”

Originally published as Qld government reveals $2.3m business case for old Gympie Hospital site