Qld government announces new hospital for Chinchilla
Planning has started for a hospital in a growing Western Downs town, and construction is tipped to start early next year. Here’s what we know so far.
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Plans for a new hospital in the Western Downs town of Chinchilla has the green light, with construction expected to start early next year.
The new hospital will replace the current 10-bed hospital, which services a population of more than 7000.
The hospital is part of a $1 billion package aimed at rural and remote health facilities in Laidley, Boonah, Moranbah, Cow Bay and Jandowae, a statement from the Queensland Minister of Health said.
“The new Chinchilla Hospital will be a gamechanger for this rapidly growing community, providing emergency and inpatient services, specialist surgical services, as well as community health and outreach services,” Queensland Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman said.
In December 2023 the hospital had two doctors, 34 nurses and four health practitioners, between July and September 2023, it had 343 patient admissions.
A statement from the health minister said the new hospital “will transform the health services in Chinchilla, significantly bolstering the region’s ability to attract and retain medical staff”.
“The master plan for the new hospital proposes to replace the current ageing hospital with a modern facility that will provide high quality patient care,” it stated.
Construction on the new hospital is expected start in early 2025.
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