Phil Thompson delivers on Hospital Ward Commitment
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has welcomed news of the completion of a new, 33-bed ward for the Townsville Hospital, funded by the former Coalition Government.
Mr Thompson said the Acute Assessment Unit was a key commitment of his successful 2019 election campaign following community feedback about the need to boost local health services.
“We know the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and support staff at the Townsville University Hospital do a fantastic job, but there’s always a need for more beds and facilities to help them better care for local patients,” he said.
“That’s why it was so important that we supported the addition of 33 extra beds for the hospital to help with the triaging of emergency patients.
“This new ward has 11 single bedrooms and 22 shared rooms to help care for patients with the most acute needs.
“It also features a patient lounge, doctors office space, staff room and meeting and training rooms.”
Mr Thompson said the hospital cited planning times, construction delays and the need to divert resources during the COVID pandemic as contributing to the length of time the project took to complete.
“It’s a shame that the project took a bit of extra time to come to fruition but it’s clear this is going to have a positive impact for the people of Townsville who deserve high-quality health care,” he said.
“The Federal Government doesn’t normally fund projects like this, but after the State Labor Government’s neglect of Queensland’s state-run hospitals we saw a need and did what we could to step in and provide support for the community.”
The new ward received $13 million from the former Coalition Government.
ENDS