Expanded Maryborough Hospital Emergency Department opens
A NEW-LOOK Maryborough Hospital emergency department was officially opened today, following a multimillion-dollar upgrade that will transform the patient experience.
Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the new emergency department will cater for the future health demands of the community.
“Reopening the expanded Emergency Department is a significant moment for the local community,” Mr Saunders said.
“This Emergency Department is bigger and better, expanding from 17 to 24 treatment spaces.
“This includes six acute bays, seven fast-track bays, two resuscitation bays and seven Clinical Decisions Unit beds.
“Adding extra treatment spaces and capacity is a massive win for the community.”
“It’s also great to see the outside of the hospital get a fresh new look with the updated façade, and the ED made more accessible with entrance paths from both the Neptune and Walker Street sides.
“I know that Maryborough Hospital’s excellent health staff will continue to provide the same outstanding care to our community that they always have – but now they can do it from much improved facilities.”
The emergency department refurbishment is part of a wider $14.37 million upgrade that has also given the main reception area a facelift and will soon result in the reopening of an expanded and modernised specialist outpatients department.
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson said the opening of the upgraded ED was a great example of the health service’s commitment to building capacity and ensuring facilities across the region were fit for purpose.
“The refurbishments we’ve opened today are a vital step in ongoing service improvements at Maryborough Hospital,” Ms Jamieson said.
“Our strategic plan Care Comes First… Through Patients Eyes’ makes a commitment to building capacity across our region, and the upgrades to Maryborough Hospital are an important part of that.
“There’s still some important work to be finished on this project, however.
“Now that the emergency department has moved back to its proper location, the area it’s vacated – the recently upgraded specialist outpatients department – is having the final finishing touches made so the specialist outpatients team can return to its own home from April.
“We’ll continue to keep the community informed as the entire project gets closer to completion.
“In the meantime, I’d like to thank our community and our staff for their patience throughout the construction phase. Like any significant project, there have been necessary disruptions to normal operations – but there’s no doubt the final outcome has been worth it.”
