REDLAND Hospital is set to get an intensive care unit in the next two years, with the state government today announcing a $62 million expansion.
The works - including a $32 million contribution from the state government and $30 million from the federal government - will also include a new 32-bed ward.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said the upgrade would be fast-tracked for delivery with stage one expected to be completed in late 2022.
With an eye to the looming state election, the government announced the work will kick off next year.
"The people of the Redlands Coast and the bay islands told us they wanted an ICU," he said. "Stage one will deliver critical care close to home for this growing community with a new six-bed ICU and new 32-bed ward."
A number of existing areas in the hospital will also be refurbished as part of stage one.
The expansion is set to support 179 jobs.
The hospital has received several major boosts this year, with expansions to the birthing unit and emergency department opened in March. A $50 million, 713-space multi-level car park was announced in June.
Accompanied by a throng of Labor ministers and MPs, Redlands MP Kim Richards said the expansion would transform the facility from a community hospital to a metropolitan hospital.
"Over the past five years alone, Redland Hospital has seen a 34 per cent growth in admissions and a 22 per cent increase in outpatient appointments," she said.
It comes after controversy over the Redlands' preparedness for COVID-19 as cases escalated in the south-east in March and April.
Hospital funding has long been an issue of conflict among state and federal MPs, with the $1.5 million business case carried out ahead of the expansion drawing criticism from Bowman MP Andrew Laming.
Mr Laming said Labor had been forced into the announcement of the expansion ahead of the state election but welcomed the news.
"Last year's money has activated both a multi-storey car park and an intensive care unit," he said. "I'm calling (a hospital funding campaign) an unqualified success and welcome the state government finally coming to the table."
Another business case is set to be completed in early 2022, paving the way for planning of the expansion's second stage.
The $6 million business case, led by Building Queensland, will include analysis of service and population demands and projections.
Ms Richards said stage two would be a larger expansion project that increased the hospital's self-sufficiency, reducing pressure on other hospitals.
