Caboolture Hospital in Queensland, Australia, has inaugurated its new clinical services building as part of a A$352.9m ($232.7m) redevelopment initiative.
The investment is part of a larger A$399.5m redevelopment effort that aims to modernise and expand the hospital's facilities to meet the patient community's changing needs.
The five-storey facility adds 130 beds and services such as an emergency department, palliative care unit, intensive care unit, operating theatres and a cardiac care unit to the hospital.
Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said: “The new A$352.9m Clinical Services Building is a game-changer for this rapidly growing community, with an expanded emergency department and specialised services opening just in time for Christmas.
“A new palliative care unit and geriatric evaluation and management unit will provide increased access to services right here in Caboolture, supporting some of our most complex patient cohorts closer to home.
“Our existing workforce will be joined by new staff, with 283 full-time equivalent positions across a range of services to support the care needs of this growing community.
“I’m proud our government is delivering the infrastructure needed to bring vital health services, closer to home for Queenslanders.”
The redevelopment also includes a multi-storey car park and a refurbishment programme for existing hospital spaces.
Caboolture Hospital executive director Alanna Geary said that a larger Emergency Department is due to open at the hospital next month.
The new Emergency Department will increase the hospital's capacity and add 130 patient beds.
Ms Geary added that the targeted refurbishment of the existing hospital will begin early next year and include an enhanced and expanded Special Care Nursery, New Medical Day Stay Unit and expanded medical records facility.
Earlier this year, the Queensland government opened the Caboolture Satellite Hospital, which provides free urgent care for patients who do not need to visit an emergency department.
