Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has announced that the Kilcoy Hospital will receive $900,000 in funding from the State Government to upgrade hospital facilities.
Mrs Frecklington said the funding will be a great boost for the Kilcoy community and staff and patients of the Kilcoy Hospital, and is just the first phase in an enhancement plan to upgrade existing inpatient and specialist outpatient services at the Hospital.
"As part of the refurbishment, the old maternity wing will be modernised to cater for planned new health services," Mrs Frecklington said.
"Planning is in the early stages for the infrastructure enhancements, which could include a new oral health treatment room, a day infusion room for low dose chemotherapy and a new procedure room for situations such as emergency births, lacerations and shoulder dislocations," she said.
"Further work is also underway to increase capacity onsite, as well as allow for the opportunity to expand the use of telehealth services at Kilcoy Hospital", she said.
Kilcoy Hospital is currently using teleconferencing to deliver a range of specialist outpatient appointments that occur in Brisbane, Redcliffe, and Caboolture, including appointments for local residents at the Redcliffe Hospital’s Fracture Clinic.
"Demand for health services continues to grow across rural and remote areas of the state, and so does the need to enhance health services and facilities which meet local and wider community needs," she said.
"This funding will make a great difference to Kilcoy Hospital’s capacity to deliver safe, family-centred care to patients and will improve local access to specialist inpatient and outpatient services.
The refurbishment is anticipated to commence in late 2014 following a tender process.
Metro North Hospital and Health Service Board Chair, Dr Paul Alexander said the funding would ensure that Kilcoy Hospital and Metro North Hospital and Health Service would continue to deliver quality health services across the region.
"It is important that our patients have access to a very high level of care, no matter what hospital they visit or where they live in the Metro North region," he said.
