Metro South District (of which PA Hospital is part) is the most populous health district in the Queensland, with an estimated 948,577 residents - 23 per cent of the state's  total in 2006, and projected population growth of 18 per cent by 2016.¹

The PAH area, including referrals from regional centres, comprises the greatest proportion of this population density, making health and emergency service expansion necessary to meet the population demand.

An independent review confirmed the need to redevelop PAH's emergency department to improve patient safety, improve patient flows and address clinical staff needs.

PAH has a strong focus on trauma referral and these services will increase in line with Queensland Health's trauma plan.

Construction in the project commenced in December 2008 - it is expected to open in mid November 2010.

PAH's new emergency department is being designed to enable treatment of up to 50,000 patients a year, up from an average of 45,000.

The new PAH emergency department will feature improved acute trauma facilities that will care for patients from all over South East Queensland.

The new emergency department will provide an additional 30-bed Medical Assessment and Planning Unit.  This will give patients better access to the hospital and see those patients treated and well enough to go home in less than 48 hours.

There will also be a new fast-track area that will reduce patient waiting times and a new emergency discharge area.

There will be more than 4,100 square metres of brand new construction and more than 800 square metres of existing facilities upgraded.

The new emergency department will help move patients safely and efficiently to get the particular hospital care they need.  More assessment and treatment areas mean that more patients can be seen with efficiency.  Patients will be streamed through to the clinical area that their condition requires.

The improved facilities will reduce overcrowding in the Emergency Department and allow staff to better manage patients.

Experience in other facilities shows that these kinds of facility improvements can contribute to improved staff satisfaction, reduced stress and improved staff retention.

The end result of happier staff is better patient care.

There will be construction noise throughout the building phase which will affect nearby residents.  The construction company will restrict noise to the allowed times for the comfort of local residents.  Where elements of construction are required to occur in the early hours of the morning to reduce impact on traffic requirements, residents and business in the direct proximity will be notified ahead of time by PAH through a variety of communication channels.

PAH's emergency department will be business as usual during construction.

Redeveloping the current Emergency service will not substantially change the nature of what is provided but will improve the capacity of the service.

Entrances to the PAH campus will temporarily change during construction, to maintain safety around the worksite. 

When completed, the expanded emergency department will have new ambulance and public entrances, with improved signage and visibility. 

The helipad opened in May 2010 following a successful testing period.

Construction adjacent to the PAH helipad has meant that construction cranes restrict flight paths for helicopters accessing the PAH helipad. The construction included the University of Queensland Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (PACE) building, which opened early 2010.

PAH receives an average of four to five patients by helicopter transfer per week.

The Statewide Clinical Co-ordination Service (SCCS) manages Emergency Services and hospitals in relation to:

• Scene/pre-hospital rotary wing responses                           
• Inter-facility rotary and fixed wing retrievals 
• Inter-facility fixed wing transport services                            
• Regional road based resource disputation
• Multiple casualty incidents

Patient safety is the top priority in all referrals to PAH.  PAH will be working closely with all management services to ensure the best outcome for the patient and the transfer services.

Helicopters were directed to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for delivery of major trauma patients through the Statewide Clinical Co-ordination Service. Some choppers were directed to Mater or Archerfield Airport for patients who were to be transferred by road by ambulance to PAH.  This process worked well during our helipad's construction.

The planned construction of a new Translational Research Institute on PAH campus, which commenced in 2010, required the permanent closure of the previous helipad, because the Institute was to be built over the previous helipad site.

Furthermore, patient safety and aviation rules are key priorities. An aviation engineer and Queensland rescue pilots recommended its closure to ensure ongoing safety.  Pilots were concerned the old helipad was too close to buildings and access was further limited by construction cranes.  The aviation engineer (contracted by PAH) confirmed the need for the helipad to be relocated.

Even after the construction cranes are removed, the new buildings being constructed in the area will limit access to the PAH Helipad and would make it unusable in some weather.