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Joint Release

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing

The Hon Geoff Wilson MP
Queensland
Minister for Health

17 March 2011

The upgrade of Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (QEII) Hospital has been given a significant boost with an additional $68.5 million in funding from the Gillard Government including a doubling of the size of the emergency department.

This additional funding means the total Commonwealth investment in this busy south side hospital will now be more than $102 million, including the funding for bricks and mortar as well as the money required to expand services.

Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and Queensland Minister for Health Geoff Wilson today said this would deliver a brand new ED with new investments of 8 short stay beds and a 12 chair transit unit.

“All of this comes as a result of the historic health reform agreement signed by the Commonwealth Government and the States,” Minister Roxon said.

“The boost to the QEII ED is part of a $675 million package to assist Queensland meet tough new hospital performance targets to treat patients in clinically appropriate times.”

“This builds on my announcement in August 2010 that the Commonwealth would fund a new endoscopy unit and 10 bed palliative care unit at the hospital.”

“Giving hospitals the resources they need for more beds and better care is an absolute priority for the Gillard Government through national health reform.”

Minister Wilson said the funding boost was more than welcome news, and would deliver new and better services for the south side community.

“Locals can expect to see work on the new ED start this year,” Mr Wilson said.

“The new ED will open with 11 fast tracked treatment spaces – 8 more than in the existing ED.”

“And for the first time, it will also deliver 8 short stay beds.”

“In addition, the project will include a new 12-chair transit lounge which will give patients a quiet and comfortable place to rest while waiting for their transport home.”

“As a result of the spacious new ED and its state-of-the-art equipment, patients will move more quickly through the ED and the time patients spent waiting to receive treatment would decrease.”

State Member for Sunnybank Judy Spence said the total redevelopment would increase the footprint of the hospital by about 20 per cent within the next two years.

“It will mean that the ED and the endoscopy unit will be housed in a brand new, state-of-the-art two-storey building,” Ms Spence said.

“The funding will also allow for the refurbishment of the current ED to make way for a dedicated training facility, as well as providing room to expand the hospital further in the future.”

Ms Roxon said the investment included operational funding for QEII Hospital to increase its capacity and meet new national performance benchmarks.

Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett said that the local community would benefit from the redeveloped QEII hospital.

“Services like expanded emergency care, new capacity for cancer screening and 10 new palliative care beds mean that residents of the southern suburbs can get care closer to home,” Mr Perrett said.

The new building is expected to be completed in late 2012, with endoscopy services operating from late the same year, and the new ED opening early the following year. The palliative care unit is due to open at the end of this year.

Minister Roxon media contact: (02) 6277 7220
Minister Wilson media contact: 0408 701 409