MEMBER for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker and former Capalaba MP Don Brown have traded claims over the future of a proposed $150 million mental health and allied health expansion at Redland Hospital.
Mrs Stoker rejected Labor claims that 43 new mental health beds had been cut, saying the former Labor Government had committed to 20 additional beds, taking the facility’s total capacity to 43.
“Labor’s claims that we have cut 43 new mental health beds is simply false. There were never 43 new beds proposed. Not under Labor or under anyone else,” Mrs Stoker said.
“The former Labor Government’s own announcement made clear the project would deliver 20 additional mental health beds, taking the total capacity to 43.”
“Those 20 additional beds remain part of our fully funded Hospital Rescue Plan and planning is underway – so there has been no change.”
Mr Brown said Redlands residents needed certainty on funding and delivery timeframes.
“Amanda Stoker can throw around accusations of “lying” all she likes, but she still hasn’t answered the questions that actually matter to Redlands residents,” he said.
“When will planning for the new Redland Hospital Mental Health Facility be finished?
“When will construction start?
“When will construction finish?
“And will the LNP guarantee the full $150 million that was committed to this project?”
Mr Brown said Labor had committed $150 million for the Mental Health and Allied Health building, including 20 additional beds, with construction expected to begin in 2025 and the facility expected to be operational in late 2027.
“The $150 million was actually listed in the LNP’s first State Budgets,” he said.
“Even Amanda Stoker said after the LNP’s first Budget:
“We’re delivering the $150 million Redland Hospital expansion, including a mental health and allied health building.”
“So here’s the question for Amanda: where is that $150 million commitment in the latest Budget?”
Mrs Stoker said planning was continuing while the government focused on completing the first stage of Redland Hospital’s expansion.
“Let’s get Stage 1 done first, while planning continues for the mental health expansion,” she said.
“We inherited a hospital infrastructure pipeline that required substantial re-planning, and we are doing the work necessary to turn promises on paper into health infrastructure that can actually be delivered.”
She said the government was also delivering better performance outcomes at the hospital.
“Under Labor, ambulance ramping at Redland Hospital reached a shocking 72.7 per cent. The latest monthly figure is 54.3 per cent, an improvement of 18.4 percentage points from Labor’s peak,” she said.
“During Labor’s decade of decline, ambulances were losing 42.9 minutes per patient at Redland Hospital. That has now fallen to 24.1 minutes.”
Mrs Stoker also pointed to the new ICU, 37 additional inpatient beds, Transit Care Hub and procurement for a new MRI as evidence of progress.
Mr Brown said the ICU, additional inpatient beds and Lagoon Ward had been delivered under Labor.
“Labor funded and built the major expansion of Redland Hospital,” he said.
“Labor delivered Stage 1 including the new ICU and 37 additional inpatient beds, as well as the separate 28-bed Lagoon Ward. That’s 65 additional beds delivered through those projects.”
“What has the LNP actually delivered?
“An $8.3 million Transit Care Hub designed to move Redland’s patients away to other hospitals, while the major expansion our growing community needs remains stuck in “planning”.”
“Redlands doesn’t need another planning exercise.
“We need the LNP to commit to the $150 million, give us a construction start date, give us a completion date, and get on with building the next stage of Redland Hospital.”
