Outpatients done, ED work to start at Maryborough

An important step in the $14.37 million upgrade of Maryborough Hospital has been taken, with the completion of the specialist outpatients department stage of the project.

The refurbished specialist outpatients area will enhance patient access and improve facilities, and will expand from 10 to 18 treatment spaces, including 13 consultation rooms, three treatment rooms, a plaster room and a procedure room.

The completion of the outpatients department will pave the way for work to start on the emergency department upgrade, with ED services set to temporarily relocate to the outpatient area from March 27 until its own refurbishment is finished.

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the upgrades would enable Maryborough Hospital to cope with the current and future demands of its community.

“The new specialist outpatients department is an investment in the future of Maryborough Hospital, which will increase its capacity, enhance patient access and improve its facilities,” Mr Saunders said.

“Rooms and treatment spaces in the outpatients area have not only increased in number, but the internal reconfiguration and design will improve the functionality of the department – which benefits both staff and patients.

“It’s fantastic that the Maryborough community will be able to benefit from the refurbished area once it opens to patients later. In the meantime, I look forward to the emergency department aspect of the upgrade getting under way.”

Upgrades to the main reception area of the hospital have also been completed, providing a more welcoming and better designed area for visitors as they first arrive at the facility.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson said the finished specialist outpatients department was one way in which the Board was responding to the challenge of building capacity to serve the community.

“Ensuring our specialist outpatient department is modern and functional is a vital step in planning for the future of Maryborough Hospital and increasing its capacity,” Ms Jamieson said

“Our strategic plan Care Comes First… Through Patients Eyes’ makes a commitment to increasing capacity across our region, and the upgrades to Maryborough Hospital are a strong example of that.”

When completed, the emergency department will increase from 17 to 24 treatment spaces, including six acute bays, four fast-track bays, two resuscitation bays and seven Clinical Decisions Unit beds.

While emergency department services temporarily operate out of the completed specialist outpatients area, ambulances will need to access Maryborough Hospital from the Walker St entrance instead of the current Neptune St entrance.

WBHHS Chief Executive Adrian Pennington said there would be some inconvenience for patients while this work took place, including a slight temporary reduction in car parks, but it was necessary to deliver a project that would ultimately improve services for the Maryborough community.

“This project has had to be carefully staged to enable us to provide continuity of care for our patients,” Mr Pennington said.

“To enable upgrade work to begin on the emergency department, emergency services will be relocated to the completed specialist outpatient area and outpatient services will continue to operate out of Ward 1, until the whole project is complete.

“This will have a temporary impact on the current patient set-down area outside the main entrance, because this area will need to accommodate ambulances for this stage of the project. An alternative set-down area has been provided nearby.

“We ask for the community’s patience throughout this time. Despite some inconveniences, the end result will be worth it – modern emergency and specialist outpatients departments that will improve our capacity and the overall patient experience for our Maryborough community.”