Minister to open state-of-the-art critical care services at Mater
- Release Date: 16/02/2007
- Media Contact: Miranda Hunt 0410 417 790
Today, Friday 16 February, the Queensland Health Minister, the Honourable Mr Stephen Robertson MP will officially open the new Critical Care Units at the Mater Adult Hospital.
The opening of the new Critical Care Units, which comprises the Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit and the Cardiovascular Investigations Unit, signifies an important milestone in Mater’s redevelopment project.
This Unit will be the first new area to officially open since the government announced the refurbishment of the Mater Adult Hospital and the building of a new Mater Mothers’ Hospital in 2004.
Since that time, Queensland Health has pledged A$128 million to Mater’s redevelopment project.
According to Mater’s CEO, Dr John O’Donnell, the newly renovated Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units will continue to provide exceptional services for patients at the Mater Hospital.
“The new Critical Care Units have 11 intensive care beds and six coronary care beds and will continue to provide specialist care for a range of critical medical and surgical patients.
“Equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology, the new facilities will include three high level isolation rooms in the Intensive Care Unit and integrated electronic hoists systems suitable to lift patients.
“In addition, to improve patient care, the Intensive Care Unit has installed pendant systems beside each bed to make it easier for staff to access patients and equipment.
“The six individual coronary care rooms have ensuites in four of the rooms,” Dr John O’Donnell said.
The new unit has been specially designed to be accessible to the new Mater Mothers’ Hospital when it opens in 2008, with a link-way being built to easily transport critical ill obstetric patients.
In addition, from mid 2007, a dedicated lift will open directly to this area from the new helipad, located on the top of Mater Adult Hospital which will improve access to critical patients who have been transported from across South East Queensland.
“The expansion of the new Mater Adult Hospital Critical Care Units enables Mater to provide comprehensive critical care services for premature babies, children, adults and obstetric patients.” Dr O’Donnell said.
Mater Health Services and Queensland Health have worked in consultation on this project and the new Mater Adult Hospital Critical Care Units are designed to provide a comprehensive intensive care and coronary care service to all Queenslanders.