October 25, 2016
Murgon Hospital has become the first in the Darling Downs Health Service area to use solar power, and will be used as a test case to see if solar can be used at other hospitals in the future.
The hospital hosted members of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board on Monday, who took the opportunity of their monthly Board meeting to chat to staff members and local community members.
The DDHHS Board holds its monthly meeting in a rural location every second month.
The visit was also an opportunity for Board members to inspect new solar panels that have been installed as part of Energy Queensland’s “Business Solar Saver” trial.
Ergon has supplied, installed and will now maintain about a hundred 280 watt solar panels which have been placed on the roof of the hospital.
Acting Cluster Operations Manager South Burnett Julie Kelly said the installation had been very professional and while it had little impact on the staff or patients, the new solar panels had caused some discussion around town.
“People have been joking that the hospital will be powering all of Murgon,” Ms Kelly said.
Board Chairman Mike Horan said Ergon Retail had approached the DDHHS about the possibility of participating in the trial.
“Murgon Hospital is the first hospital in the DDHHS where this has been done and we are keen to undertake the trial with a view of potentially expanding the service across other hospitals.
“It’s estimated the solar panels will reduce the hospital’s monthly energy bill by approximately 23 per cent, a saving of around $10,000 per year.
“This is a great way to ensure that our hospitals are as efficient as possible but also environmentally sustainable.”
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The meeting was also an opportunity for the Board to announce a project to build a new ambulance ramp at Murgon Hospital – a suggestion which had been put to the Board at a previous visit.
Mr Horan said the Queensland Ambulance Service had helped design the new ramp to ensure it was wider and easier to manoeuvre patients into the Emergency Department.
“It will be moved to the other end of the building closer to the Emergency Department so that QAS officers will no longer need to wheel patients though other parts of the hospital to access emergency care,” Mr Horan said.
“It will also provide easier access to the hospital’s helipad.”
The ramp, valued at more than $190,000, will be constructed under the $50.6 million Backlog Maintenance Remediation Program which includes a host of works across the DDHHS to improve local facilities.
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A presentation was made on Monday to outgoing member Terry Fleischfresser, who finished with the Board in May.
Mr Horan thanked Mr Fleischfresser for his time on the DDHHS Board and presented him with a framed photograph and commemorative book.
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Board chairman Mike Horan announced that work would begin soon to improve the palliative care room at Cherbourg Hospital.
“The $150,000 project will refurbish an area near the men’s ward to provide a bigger palliative care room which includes a kitchenette and visitors’ lounge,” Mr Horan said.
“The current palliative room is not big enough to accommodate extra family members who often come from afar when a loved one is placed in end-of-life care.
“The new facility recognises that it’s very important to Aboriginal people to have their family close at such a distressing time.”
Cherbourg Health Service Manager Ms Tarita Fisher said the Cherbourg Health Action Group had promoted the idea for the improved facility.
“We know from experience that more room is needed, as well as access to a small kitchen to make a cuppa when needed and a separate space for family to gather to grieve,” she said.
“It can be the last opportunity to pay respects to a loved one, so to have more of a self-contained area will be very much appreciated.”
Kingaroy contractor Wards Electrical and Communications is expected to start work on the upgrade in late October.
The project is being jointly funded by the DDHHS and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Branch of the Department of Health.
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Another key capital works project discussed at Murgon was the imminent redevelopment of the old Farrhome Nursing Home building in Kingaroy.
Mr Horan said the Board had previously announced the $4.2 million joint venture with Griffith University and Queensland Rural Medical Education to refurbish the building.
“The Board committed $2.7 million from the hospital and health service’s operating surplus to the project, which will establish a dental training and treatment clinic plus community health services in the refurbished building,” Mr Horan said.
“I am pleased to announce today that work on this important project began earlier this month and is being undertaken by Hutchinson Builders, who were recently awarded the contract for the work through a public tender process.
“The project will increase oral health services at Kingaroy Hospital from four to 10 chairs, as well as support the education and training of up to 10 dental students from Griffith University.
“The work is scheduled to be completed at the end of March 2017.”
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The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service delivers hospital and healthcare services to a population of nearly 300,000 and covers an area of about 90,000sq km, including all the South Burnett.
DDHHS delivers care from 20 hospitals and six residential care facilities, and manages an annual budget of more than $670 million.
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