Locals invited to help shape New Bundaberg Hospital

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Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) is calling for nominations from patients, carers and health consumers to be involved in planning and design activities for the New Bundaberg Hospital.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Board Chair Peta Jamieson said involving local people with lived experience would ensure the new hospital was tailored to the community’s unique needs.

“Listening to real-life examples and personal stories both of best practice and patient journeys that could have been improved will be crucial as we move through future design phases,” Ms Jamieson said.

“We want our patients, carers and visitors to feel safe, connected and confident from the moment they enter the new hospital site at Thabeban to the moment they depart.

“I encourage anyone who has had a direct experience at one of our health facilities (past or present), who feels they could positively share their feedback to make a difference, to nominate their interest.

“The new Bundaberg Hospital will serve the community for generations to come, and this is a fantastic opportunity for locals to help shape this important project so that it reflects our local needs.”

WBHHS Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said it was an absolute priority that patient-centered design and care was at the heart of the New Bundaberg Hospital project.

“We aren’t looking to design the new hospital ‘for’ our staff and the community – we want to design it ‘with’ them and embed them in the process,” Ms Carroll said.

“There will be a variety of opportunities that members of the community can get involved, such as taking part in regular meetings and consultation discussions, once-off focus groups or online surveys.

“In the year ahead, the project team will seek feedback on a range of ideas including the design and delivery of clinical services as well as features such as waiting areas, wayfinding and accessibility.

“All applicants who nominate will be placed on a register of potential consumer participants, allowing the project team to get in contact about suitable opportunities that align with experiences and interests.

“We’ve already gathered really useful feedback through our staff and community surveys and our public information sessions last year, and I’m looking forward to receiving more as the project progresses.”

To nominate your interest, visit: https://forms.office.com/r/DCpUiQX44R. Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 13 January 2023. The next stage of the design process will start in early 2023.

The New Bundaberg Hospital project forms part of Queensland Health’s Capacity Expansion Program, which will provide additional funding of $9.78 billion to health infrastructure for the over six years.