THE $710 million Ipswich Hospital expansion will begin next month after the recent demolition of the former mental health building.
This next stage will feature the construction of a purpose-built, multi-storey acute services building to house 200 new beds.
There will also be a new and expanded emergency department, more operating theatres, a satellite medical imaging service, a central sterilisation service, back-of-house services, and space for future development.
The project is expected to be completed by late 2027.
Queensland Health Department data showed almost 20,000 people visited the hospital’s emergency department in the last quarter of 2023.
Premier Steven Miles said the project was vital to keep pace with the population surge – the fastest growing region in the state.
“The government will continue … to improve access to healthcare in the Ipswich community, because every Queenslander deserves quality care close to home,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see Stage 2 get underway.”
He said it would ‘support’ 1,700 construction jobs in the process.
West Moreton Health Board Chairman Michael Willis said the recently opened Ripley Satellite Hospital, the Mental Health Acute Inpatient Service and the Stage 2 expansion would help meet growing healthcare demands.
“The hospital expansion will allow us to do this not just in the short-term, but in the decades to come,” he said.
“We’re excited to grow as a health service and I’m looking forward to seeing the expansion take shape later this year.”
