Toowoomba Hospital elective surgery waiting lists cut - Queensland Country Life

01 May, 2013 02:43 PM

PENELOPE ARTHUR

THE Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) will provide $3 million to reduce elective surgery waiting lists at the Toowoomba Hospital.

The DDHHS Board has also voted to upgrade two birthing suites at the Stanthorpe Hospital, build a second endoscopy theatre at the Toowoomba Hospital and commence planning for an upgrade of the emergency department of the Kingaroy Hospital and the palliative care unit at the Goondiwindi Hospital.

DDHHS Board chairman, Mike Horan, announced the extra funding after a board meeting in Kingaroy on Tuesday and said the upgrades would be provided with money from within the existing DDHHS budget.

“I’d like to thank the executive director of the DDHHS, Dr Peter Bristow, and all the staff for the fact that we have been able to achieve this additional work within budget and despite the Commonwealth Government removing $6.1 million from our budget in December,” he said.

Mr Horan said the $3million in extra funding for elective surgery at the Toowoomba Hospital would benefit patients from right across the DDHHS and South West Queensland.

“The money will be used to address long waiting lists for semi-urgent elective surgery and non-urgent elective surgery over the next two months,” he said.

“The $3 million will benefit about 200 additional patients.”

Mr Horan said Stanthorpe mothers would also benefit from upgraded birthing suites which would include ensuites and a specialised birth bath for pain relief.

“We are also excited to provide funds to commence planning and financial investigations of a revamp of the emergency section of the Kingaroy Hospital and improvements to the palliative care facility at the Goondiwindi Hospital,” he said.