April 29, 2016
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board has committed funding to start work on a $4.4 million project to create a new space for dental and community health services at Kingaroy Hospital.
As we reported last month, the old Farrhome nursing unit building will be converted to relocate Kingaroy Community Heath.
As well, the hospital will enter into a partnership with Griffith University to develop an oral health training area which will have up to 10 dental students and six student dental chairs.
Board chairman Mike Horan said Farrhome had been used as an aged care facility until 2013. Before that, it was the maternity wing of the hospital.
When this service closed, the DDHH Board gave the community a commitment that the future use of the building would be to support clinical services rather than administration.
“At our Board meeting in Kingaroy on Wednesday, I was delighted to announce that $2.7 million from the hospital and health service’s operating surplus would be invested in this important facility for the people of the South Burnett,” Mr Horan said.
“The Board is pleased that Griffith University and Queensland Rural Medical Education (QRME) are, between them, contributing a further $1.1 million towards the project, with the balance of funding to come from the Backlog Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program.
“This secures the training component of the facility and we are excited that an ongoing partnership with Griffith University and QRME will mean student dentists will be able to complete some of their practical training here.”
The expansion will increase the oral health service at Kingaroy Hospital from four to 10 chairs.
“The service will support the education and training of up to 10 dental students from Griffith University, building on the successful partnership between DDHHS and Griffith medical training at Kingaroy,” Mr Horan said.
Griffith University Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) Professor Allan Cripps described the announcement as “a tremendous outcome that will provide us with the opportunity to both improve access to health services for the people of the South Burnett, and provide training to students who will become the dental workforce of the future”.
“I am delighted to see this project progressing, further extending the very positive collaboration that Griffith and QRME have developed with DDHHS,” he said.
Mr Horan said the community health services to be located in the building would include drop-in community nursing clinics, diabetes education, child health, breast care, immunisation clinics and antenatal classes.
He said it was good news for the local community to have a sustainable local dental service and community health housed in a modernised and fit-for-purpose facility.
Tenders for the project have been called and work is expected to start later this year.
Farrhome will continue to be named after long-serving Kingaroy Hospital Matron Nell Farr in recognition of her contribution over many years to local residents.
Related articles:
- Hospital Gets Voice In Canberra
- Farewell To Farrhome
- Last Resident Leaves Farrhome
- Farrhome Closing Soon?
