An in-principal lease renewal between Noosa Hospital and Sunshine Coast Health means the Noosa community can be assured that their Noosa Hospital will be able to care for them for many years to come, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announced last week.
The team at Noosa Hospital have provided excellent care to the community since 1999, and this partnership is set to continue, with Sunshine Coast Health agreeing in principle with Ramsay Health to negotiate a contract extension, she said.
“This lease renewal allows the private provider, Ramsay Health, to invest where they need to and ensure they can continue to meet the demands of the Noosa community,” Minister Fentiman said.
“With a 15 per cent growth projection predicted for Noosa by 2041, it is important that we invest in the area to manage the increasing need for health care.”
“Providing care as close to home as possible is a key priority for our health service, and contracts like this one help us to keep patients in their communities when they need care, Sunshine Coast Health chief executive Dr Peter Gillies said.
“The local clinicians support high-quality, accessible care to the Noosa community, which is why we have agreed in principle to the lease renewal to see our successful partnership with Ramsay Health extended.”
The lease renewal announcement follows a ruling in the Planning and Environment Court that overturned a decision made in 2023 by the previous Noosa Council to refuse Noosa Hospital’s application to construct two buildings, for hospital and day centre, on to its adjoining block on land zoned low-density residential.
At the time councillors, including then mayor Clare Stewart, voted unanimously to reject the hospital application, following staff recommendations the site should be retained for housing, with the potential residential yield of six housing dwellings.
In January this year the former Noosa Council voted unanimously to defend an appeal against their decision in the Planning and Environment Court.
Noosa Hospital’s win of the court appeal to overturn the decision paved the way for the hospital to proceed with its construction plans and the lease renewal to be negotiated.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton joined Noosa Hospital CEO Karl van der Merwe for an onsite visit after the recent court determination.
“This is a good outcome for our community considering the need to expand both the emergency department, and associated contracts,” Ms Bolton said. “As I have said previously, we never like to see elements of the Noosa Plan contested. However, the Material Change of Use provision is there for a very valid reason, and that is to address the changing needs of our community.”
The decision means that the Noosa Private Hospital can commence building an infusion centre and day surgery to free up internal space on the existing hospital site to expand the emergency department, alleviating ambulance diversions to hospitals further away.
Dr van der Merwe said the Ramsay Health team were in the process of negotiations with the Sunshine Coast Health and Hospital Service regarding their lease.
“We are continuing to have positive discussions with the local health service towards achieving a long-term lease which will enable us to commence developments as soon as possible,” he said.
The Queensland Minister for Health as subsequently confirmed Sunshine Coast Health has agreed in principle to extend the lease, meaning local, quality health care services will continue at Noosa Hospital.
Ramsay Health, the operator of Noosa Hospital, have made a few changes to their plans for the adjacent site, including adding an acoustic barrier, relocating a chiller plant and increasing parking and accessibility to address resident concerns.
“Ramsay Health Care has been providing leading health care services to the people of Noosa and the Sunshine Coast region for several decades. We are currently investigating ways to expand and improve the services we provide the local community so we can continue to attract leading specialists here and people can be treated locally,” Dr van der Merwe said.
Ms Bolton welcomed the progress, adding: “Our community has specific identified needs, many of which have been resolved including now having mental health triaging and telehealth out of Noosa Hospital and a second ambulance co-responder team. Examples of outstanding requests are for a Noosa based Police Acute Care Emergency responder (PACER) and the Health Outreach team operating also on weekends.”
“We look forward to the coming weeks as the details of the lease extension are completed. Noosa Hospital is a much loved and valued part of our community, providing wonderful services and care, including from the beautiful volunteers.”
Noosa Hospital, which is an acute medical and surgical facility, is currently operated by Ramsay Health and offers a comprehensive range of inpatient and day services, across a wide range of specialties.
Sunshine Coast Health and Ramsay Health have a constructive and collaborative long-standing relationship providing care to the Noosa community and surrounds, at Noosa Hospital.
