FOUR more beds will added to Redland Hospital’s emergency department, extra parking is being investigated and a water birthing suite built from early next year.
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The announcement was made by Health Minster Steven Miles on Sunday during his first visit to Redland Hospital since taking up the portfolio last year.
Mr Miles said the state government was looking at how to expand the hospital’s car parking, announcing that a business case for the project was underway.
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“I’m pleased to announce today that we’re progressing a detailed business case into expanding parking at Redland Hospital,” he said.
“The detailed business case, which will begin immediately, is expected to be complete by the end of 2019.
“This is in addition to our … $1.73 million investment for emergency department expansion and maternity services upgrade.”
The business case for car parking improvements – tipped to cost $500,000 – drew criticism from Bowman MP Andrew Laming, who said the announcement was driven by panic.
“Labor can’t even build a car park without a feasibility study,” he said. “Birthing suite and emergency upgrades are both old news.
“To be honest even with a car park thrown in, this work is a fraction of the $40 million Labor swiped from Metro South just weeks ago, and wasted on Nambour Hospital, a town of just 11,000 people.”
Both Redlands MP Kim Richards and Capalaba MP Don Brown had promised to deliver the $1.73 million in upgrades to the hospital’s maternity ward and emergency department during last year’s election, with the two accompanying Mr Miles on a hospital tour by facilities manager Sue Freiberg.
Ms Freiberg said the emergency department’s four short-stay beds would be put in an existing waiting area, boosting the unit to 30-beds.
Last month, Opposition Health spokeswoman Ros Bates criticised the hospital’s ED waiting times, saying almost half of patients were waiting too long to be seen.
She said 46.5 per cent of the hospital’s ED patients were not attended to within clinically recommended times in August, which was during flu season.
Mr Brown said the hospital treated about 56,000 patients every year, with the $566,000 ED upgrade to “keep up with demand”.
“We’re getting on with delivering vital upgrades to Redland Hospital, with tenders for the ED and Maternity Service upgrades to be released early 2019,” Mr Brown said.
Changes at the hospital’s antenatal clinic would begin next month to make way for a seventh birthing suite, which would have a water tub built-in and hoist to lift women in and out.
Ms Richards said the $1.16 million maternity ward upgrade would help boost services offered to women.
The water birthing suite was the first offered by Metro South Health, which operates Princess Alexandra, QUII Jubilee, Beaudesert and Logan hospitals.
“Last financial year, more than 1800 babies were born at Redland Hospital,” Ms Richards said.
“This upgrade will increase capacity from six to seven birth suites, which is great for our growing community.”
