Health Board Backs New Hospital

Asset Sales Or A New Hospital? southburnett.com.au asked State Treasurer Tim Nicholls about funding for a possible new hospital for Kingaroy during his visit to the region on Wednesday. Mr Nicholls referred to the Strong Choices Investment Program  in which $300 million has been set aside in a Community Hospitals Fund. “This is one of the opportunities that would flow if the Strong Choices plan is supported at the next election,” Mr Nicholls said. The LNP is seeking a mandate for asset sales, including Meandu mine and the Tarong power stations, to pay down debt and release funds for re-investment. Mr Nicholls said people could visit the Strong Choices Investment Program website and nominate projects which they believed should be funded.

June 26, 2014

The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board has sent a recommendation to the Department of Health for either a redeveloped or a new hospital at Kingaroy.

Board Chairman Mike Horan said the recommendation followed a complex process which included a health needs assessment which identified the health needs of the region now and the projected needs into the future.

“The recommendation goes through to the Department of Health and then eventually to the Minister (Lawrence Springborg) and hopefully to Cabinet,” Mr Horan said.

He was speaking at a morning tea with the local community held after the monthly meeting of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board (DDH&H Board) which was held at Nanango Hospital on Wednesday.

He emphasised the recommendation did not mean that a new hospital had been approved.

It meant the Board had made it quite clear to the State Government that the “number one physical need” in the region was a new or revamped hospital.

Mr Horan said a suitable site had been identified behind the old administration building at Kingaroy.

“This is a clear site where the operation could go ahead without interrupting the current hospital,” he said.

“We have provided a very strong case to go to the Department of Health and to the Minister.

“Hopefully that will lead to something in the not too far distant future.”

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Mr Horan said the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service – which includes 20 hospitals, six nursing homes and five outpatient services – was on target for the third year in a row to increase “throughput” (ie. less waiting time) in emergency departments.

He said all elective surgery was also being delivered on time and dental waiting lists had been dramatically reduced.

“Dental waiting lists had been up to seven years but now all patients are seen clinically on time,” he said.

Breast screening has also achieved a record number of visits.

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This was the first of the Board’s monthly meetings – which rotate between Toowoomba and regional areas – to be held in Nanango.

Kingaroy, Murgon / Cherbourg and Wondai have already hosted meetings.

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Board members also inspected recent work which has been carried out at Nanango Hospital as part of the Critical Maintenance and Infrastructure Works Program.

A new concrete walkway ramp links the hospital to the outpatient department and administration building, and also serves as the ambulance loading / drop off area.

The $268,330 project also included the removal of asbestos, the replacement of the roof covering and the rerouting of data cabling and electrical supply.

The old pathway had been identified as a trip hazard.

• Related article: Horan ‘Hopeful’ About New Hospital

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The visit by the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board provided and opportunity to honour long-serving Nanango Hospital staff members.

Certificates marking service milestones were handed out to four Nanango Hospital employees:

• Debra Wood, Enrolled Nurse (10 years) – Debra commenced work as an Enrolled Nurse at Nanango Hospital in 2005, having moved to the area from Brisbane in 2003. Since then she has worked at all the hospitals in the South Burnett.

• Jodie Frohloff, Clinical Nurse (15 years) – Jodie commenced as a casual Registered Nurse at Nanango Hospital in March 1998. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed as a permanent part time Registered Nurse. She was appointed to her current position as Clinical Nurse in April 2011. Jodie has also worked at Kingaroy Hospital from time to time.

• Roslyn Downing, Operational Services Officer (10 years) – Roslyn first worked at Kingaroy Hospital in the kitchen, at Farrhome, in the laundry and in the wards. She then transferred to Nanango where she now works as an operational officer.

• Karen Cooke, Director of Nursing/Facility Manager (20 years) – Karen began her career with health in 1993. She worked at both Nambour and Eidsvold Hospitals as a Registered Nurse and then at Caboolture Hospital in the Paediatrics Ward for almost 10 years as a Registered Nurse, acting Clinical Nurse and acting Nurse Unit Manager. In 2005, she moved to the South Burnett where she has worked as a Clinical Nurse at both Nanango and Kingaroy Hospitals and as an acting Nurse Educator. Karen relieved in the Director of Nursing position for Nanango Hospital on several occasions before being permanently appointed to the position in August 2011.

Other employees who were recognised but were not present were Elaine Wiedemann, EN (10 years), Kylie Barnett, RN (15 years), and Lola (Dawn) Lohse, EN (25 years).