Towering over the Ipswich CBD, the new Ipswich Hospital expansion has reached a major milestone, with the highest level of the initial structure now in place.
Known as ‘topping out’, this milestone marks the halfway point of construction of the Ipswich Hospital Expansion, and the completion of the building's main structure.
Now work can continue to finalise the external look of the building, and then the fitting out of the building will continue, eventually delivering a brand-new Emergency Department, 200 new overnight beds, multiple new operating theatres, a cold shell hybrid theatre, cardiac catheterisation labs, satellite medical imaging, a pharmacy and other support services plus a new multi-storey car park.
The new multi-level carpark will provide safe, convenient and affordable parking for patients, visitors and staff, something which will be music to the ears for those who visit the hospital, located right near the heart of the Ipswich CBD.
All work is expected to completed and ready to open to local residents by early 2028.
As part of the topping-out ceremony, a Weeping Lilly Pilly tree was hoisted onto the building and will be later planted on the grounds on completion of the project.
The milestone follows significant progress on the Ipswich Hospital Transit Lounge, with construction nearing completion and the facility on track to become operational before the end of the year, doubling the capacity of the hospital's existing transit lounge.
The Ipswich Hospital expansion has been informed by clinical service planning, population growth predictions, stakeholder consultation, and expert technical advice to ensure it meets the current and future healthcare needs of the community.
Artist's impression of the completed Ipswich Hospital Expansion
Staff and clinicians at the Ipswich Hospital are all very excited for the project to come to fruition.
Michael Auld is the Director of Surgery for the Ipswich Hospital, and as someone who has lived his whole life in Ipswich (even doing his internship at the same location), and is excited about the increased capacity for surgeries, plus the fact that many Ipswich residents won’t have to travel to Brisbane from time to time.
“It's been a long time coming,” Michael said. "The Ipswich Hospital expansion will significantly increase surgical capacity, meaning more patients can have their operations locally instead of travelling to hospitals in Brisbane.
“They can get done quicker,” Michael said. “They can get done local and their family can come.”
Michael says the hospital's dedicated team has always gone above and beyond to care for the Ipswich community, despite the challenges of limited space, and what has traditionally been a small hospital for a city the size of Ipswich, as it is still one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
“It's the team, it's all the people who want to give more to this area that make it, and have kept it going for so long.
"Once the new expansion opens we will be able to do more surgeries, in fact we will be doubling our surgical capacity, and perhaps even expand on the kind of surgeries we can do here, rather than having to send patients to Brisbane.”
Dr Yohan Chacko is a heart specialist at Ipswich Hospital who is excited about the prospect of expanding the capacity of the heart department.
Every day Yohan treats patients with heart issues, especially chest pain and heart attacks, performing procedures such as inserting heart stents.
Once the new expansion is open, we will also have facilities to implant pacemakers and provide faster treatment to patients having heart attacks.
“Being able to do these procedures locally is so important” Dr Chacko said, who has loved every day of job for the past eight years at the location.
“Travelling one hour to Brisbane doesn't sound like a big deal to many, but it means sick patients wait longer in hospital, are away from their families, need extended time off from their jobs, it is very stressful.
“The cardiac catheterisation lab currently operates three days a week and with the expansion of services, we plan to expand that to five days a week and then to a 24/7 service.
“It’s an expansion that is long overdue,” Dr Chacko added. “It will be an incredible boost to the community and for a city the size of Ipswich that just keeps growing and growing.”
Find out more about the Hospital Rescue Plan here.