By JOLENE OGLE
THE future of Noosa Hospital is looking bright with Noosa MP Glen Elmes announcing on Monday 20 June a guaranteed 30-year lease.
Mr Elmes was joined by Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek at the Noosa Hospital to make the announcement that the new lease plus $5 million annual funding for the emergency department has been secured by the LNP State Opposition.
“The current contractual arrangement between the State Government and Ramsay Healthcare is due to expire in June 2020 and local residents need the assurance that a legally binding agreement will ensure the emergency department remains open and the hospital’s capacity to provide beds to public patients continues,” he said.
Mr Elmes said the 30-year lease was guaranteed regardless of which political party made up the next Queensland Government.
Ramsay Health state manager Lloyd Hill said the extension of the lease to 2050 made for a great news day for the Noosa community.
“Noosa Hospital is a unique hospital in that it treats both public and private patients in the one facility,” he said. “It offers choice to everyone in the community so any move by the government to secure the long-term services … is a fantastic move.”
Under the extended lease, all existing services will remain including the intensive care facility, but there is no word on a birthing suite for the Noosa population.
Mr Elmes said he doesn’t believe any provisions have been made for a birthing suite at Noosa Hospital and while he would support a birthing suite, the decision was up to the health care provider.
Mr Hill said the looming end of the 2020 lease restricted any future planning, but said the security offered by the extended lease meant the hospital could now start planning for the future.
“This statement today allows us to start planning for services for the future,” he said. “Today gives us that opportunity to start looking at what we can provide for the Noosa community as we move forward today.”
Mr Elmes said the extended lease and funding for the emergency department would mean more public medical procedures to cater for the changing age and social profile of the Noosa community.
“On average, the Noosa Hospital admits 60 patients per day and employs more than 400 staff across a range of clinical and non-clinical professions, which makes the future of the hospital integral to the future of the Noosa region,” he said.
“The Noosa Hospital provides an outstanding service to the community. This LNP policy provides certainty for its future, the health of residents and job security for employees.”
