A GROUP of businessmen plan to build a private hospital at Ormiston amid community concerns over bed shortages at the state government-run Redland Hospital.
Letters have been sent to residents detailing plans for a private facility, research hub, independent living units and an aged care home to be built on vacant land behind the Hub 68 medical precinct off Delancey Street.
People behind the development include SS Signs and Vehicle Wraps owner Steve Lambourne, former Labor MP Michael Choi, GP Dr Craig McCombe and devloper Warren Pryde.
All are aligned with development company Cleveland Rural, which trades as Hub 68.
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The hospital would provide services like elective surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, rehabilitation and infusion therapies, which could include renal dialysis and chemotherapy.
It would sit on land behind the old Fairfax Media print site and alongside the medical premises, which bought the site in 2018.
The company plans to lodge a request with the state development department for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation.
If accepted, the hospital would not need development approval but council and residents could put in feedback.
Mr Lambourne said he hoped to have more than 1000 people employed full time, with investors moving to get the project off the ground as quickly as possible.
"We've got providers contacting us wanting to use the hospital, so we're fairly comfortable about moving forward," he said.
"We've had a needs assessment study done for the medical precinct, so it's not just a pie in the sky idea.
"We're 140 beds short in the Redlands right now and we have two day surgery suites available. There's no capacity."
The proposed hospital would be a short drive from Redland Hospital and Mater Private Hospital, both of which operate off Weippin Street at Cleveland.
Mr Lambourne said Redland medical needs were not being met and the hospital could cater for people as far out of town as Carindale.
"From my perspective, it's a good location for not just a small satellite hospital but something that can service greater Redlands and Brisbane," Mr Lambourne said.
"It's bringing income and wealth down into the Redlands and we desperately need it in Cleveland."
Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson said he supported the proposal.
"The Redlands needs more non-government health investment to compliment the services provided at Redland Hospital," he said.
"While recent commitments from the Palaszczuk government to an ICU, more beds and a car park are welcome, much more in both Queensland Health and private health must be done."
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