New respiratory clinic set to open but timeline on surgical centre unclear
Start dates have yet to be determined on the construction of a surgical centre and helipad at Cairns Hospital with planning yet to begin on the major projects, Health Minister Tim Nicholls says.
Start dates have yet to be determined on the construction of a surgical centre and helipad at Cairns Hospital with planning yet to begin on the major projects, Health Minister Tim Nicholls says.
But as part of the Crisafulli Government’s Cairns Hospital Rescue Plan a new clinic at the hospital will open its doors before Christmas treating outpatients living with respiratory, rheumatology and tuberculosis conditions and offering cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
The four theatre, 32-bed centre was “paused” in April by the LNP after a forecast budget blowout estimated the facility, previously costed at $250m, would reach $447m once completed.
The Health Minister said eight beds would likely be added under the revised blueprints which would form part of a new master plan for the entire hospital.
“When we’ve got those final plans settled, we’ll be making announcements about both what that looks like and how that will evolve and the timing in respect to it,” he said.
Asked if the surgical centre would be completed during the LNP’s first term in government, Mr Nicholls declined to provide a timeline.
“The former government left office without a finalised plan for the surgery centre with a $378 million blowout,” he said.
“So we’ve committed to a new surgery centre, we’ve committed to fixing up the helipad and providing the services that the former government hadn’t done.
“We’re doing that process in consultation with the local hospital and health service, with Health Infrastructure Queensland and with clinicians, and we’ll be making some more announcements about what the Cairns Hospital looks like in the very near future.”
The Crisafulli Government was committed to providing 64 new beds as part of the Cairns Hospital Expansion under the banner of the Cairns Hospital Rescue Plan, Mr Nicholls said.
“We are getting on with delivering the 64 additional beds that are currently underway, the first tranche of which – 32 beds — will be delivered in 2026, weather permitting,” he said.
“The second tranche will be in 2027. And we’re doing that in two stages to minimise disruption to patients and to clinical procedures in the hospital.”
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Leena Singh said the new design would improve patient experience and enhance clinical capability.
“The expansion of the number of respiratory labs will improve access for patients requiring lung function testing for conditions such as asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and silicosis, or for those monitored for medication side effects or exposure to asbestos and silica dust,” Ms Singh said.
Cairns MP Michael Healy called on the LNP to ease surgery waitlists in the Far North and fast-track the centre.
“If Minister Nicholls was serious about delivering world class health care in the far north he would come clean about when Cairns was getting its much needed four surgical theatres,” Mr Healy said.
Ramping at Cairns Hospital reached 32.7 per cent in September – up 6.6 per cent from October last year.
Originally published as New respiratory clinic set to open but timeline on surgical centre unclear
