The new state-of-the-art $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) has officially been opened. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said SCUH was the first new, not replacement, tertiary hospital to be built in Australia in 20 years.
“The new facility is now the flagship hospital of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) and adds to the public health services already provided by SCHHS hospitals in Nambour, Gympie, Caloundra and Maleny.”
Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick said the successful commissioning of SCUH as a large-scale public hospital had set a new benchmark nationwide.
“As a teaching hospital, SCUH has attracted and will continue to recruit leading clinicians who are dedicated to improving treatment options and practices for patients, and committed to teaching and training the health professionals of today and the future.
“The Sunshine Coast’s population of 360,000 is expected to increase to about 500,000 within ten years. The Coast’s demographics will change along with the population and while about 17 per cent of residents are over 65, by 2030 this is predicted to reach 23 per cent.
“SCUH’s world-class, expanded facilities and potential to train doctors who can live and stay on the Coast will go above and beyond addressing a growing and changing population.”
Fast facts:
- SCUH opened with about 450 beds and will expand to its built capacity of 738 beds by 2021.
- About 8000 construction workers were inducted over SCUH’s construction period and there were 1550 on site at its peak
- The services available to local patients will include:
- emergency department
- comprehensive cancer services, including on-site radiotherapy
- specialised medical and surgical services, including a major trauma service and paediatrics
- maternity service, including neonatal care for premature babies to a level not currently available in the region
- acute rehabilitation service
- mental health inpatient service, including the Coast’s first inpatient child and adolescent capacity
- renal services (including kidney dialysis)
- interventional and diagnostic clinical support services, including a PET scanner for diagnosing certain types of cancer and cardiac catheterisation laboratories
- ambulatory care (outpatient) services
- allied health services, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
- The Sunshine Coast Health Institute (SCHI) is the collocated skills, academic and research centre which was developed in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast, TAFE Queensland East Coast.
- More than 1000 students are currently studying nursing and allied health professions at SCHI.
Image courtesy of Architectus