Minister to open refurbished Mater Adult Hospital and Emergency Department

Release date: 2/05/2008

Set to provide enhanced public services in a range of clinical specialities, the newly refurbished Mater Adult Hospital and Emergency Department will be officially opened by the Queensland Health Minister, the Honourable Stephen Robertson MP on Wednesday, 30 April 2008.

Set to provide enhanced public services in a range of clinical specialities, the newly refurbished Mater Adult Hospital and Emergency Department will be officially opened by the Queensland Health Minister, the Honourable Stephen Robertson MP on Wednesday 30 April 2008.

The completion of the extensively refurbished facility is a significant milestone in the redevelopment project and forms part of a A$188 million project jointly funded by the Queensland Government and Mater Health Services.

Mater Health Services CEO, Dr John O’Donnell said the improved facilities and access to Mater Adult Hospital will build on Mater’s commitment to exceptional health care and continue to provide Queenslanders with a wide range of specialist services.

“Mater Adult Hospital’s Emergency Department sees an average of 30 000 people per year so it was important the redevelopment was undertaken in stages to allow the hospital to remain functional throughout the process,” Dr O’Donnell said.

“Our commitment to providing care did not cease despite the disruptions throughout the significant upgrade of the facility.

“The Emergency Department upgrades include an additional 14 bed short stay Medical Assessment Planning Unit (MAPU), Transit Lounge and Ambulance Forecourt, along with a new Specimen Collection and Pre-Admission Clinic adjacent to this area.”

“The hospital will also continue to provide public services in a range of clinical specialties with particular emphasis on gynaecology and gynae-oncology, medical oncology, chemotherapy and an increase in services for a range of medical and surgical conditions,” he added.

Mater Adult Hospital features a 24-hour Emergency Department in addition to intensive and coronary care, day surgery, day oncology, day hospice and busy medical, cancer and surgical units.

Key deliverables of the refurbishment include:

• Relocation and refit of operating theatres and support areas including gastroenterology and minor ops theatres consolidated to one level.
• Complete refit and expansion of the day unit facilities.
• Complete refit and expansion of intensive care and coronary care.
• Inclusion of a four-level extension to the current building towards Stanley St to provide additional medical record services and a new outpatient service.
• Complete refit of kitchen facilities for the site and expansion of staff cafeteria facilities.
• The Medical Assessment Planning Unit (MAPU) and Emergency Department observation short stay beds and support facilities have been increased to 14 bed spaces, with a new Specimen Collection and Pre-Admission Clinic adjacent to this area.
• Refurbishment of inpatient wards which include the replacement of key clinical systems, including suction and nurse call system.
• Provision of a new helipad on top of the MAH.
• A replacement pedestrian link bridge across Stanley St to improve access and linkages between Mater Private Hospital, Mater Adult Hospital and the major car parks of the site.

A joint partnership of the Queensland Government and Mater Health Services, Mater Redevelopment Project has provided a major capital upgrade of the facilities at Mater South Brisbane site including a new Mater Mothers’ Public and Private Hospital and extensive refurbishment of the existing Mater Adult Hospital.