$122.7m hospital expansion nears completion

Gold Coast Hospital’s $122.7m mental health unit is set to open soon, enhancing care for complex cases.

Photo courtesy of Besixwatpac

The scaffolding has come down on Gold Coast University Hospital’s $122.7 million, 40-bed Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit to support people with severe and complex mental health disorders.

The unit will offer 40 beds split between two self-contained units across two levels. 

The State Government has now started a recruitment campaign for the new facility.

The new facility is linked to the existing university hospital by a semi-enclosed linkway attached to the existing mental health building.

Gold Coast-based Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the hospital would also receive a $1.7 million upgrade to improve patient flow and safety.

“Mental health is extremely important, and this unit will ensure those with severe and complex mental health issues have access to world-class, compassionate care,’’ Ms Scanlon said.

“It will provide a secure, therapeutic environment where individuals with severe and complex mental health disorders can receive the specialised care they need close to home.”

The $1.7 million project will see the emergency department triage and ambulance offload areas upgraded with eight new stretcher bays, reconfigured triage for patient transfers, a dedicated space for acute mental health presentations, and additional waiting areas.

Queensland Ambulance Services will be relocated to an external building, with the internal space repurposed to meet growing community demand.

In the past financial year, more than 190,000 patients presented to the Gold Coast Health emergency department; a rise of more than 2 per cent.

The number of ambulance arrivals also increased, rising by 5.3 per cent to more than 64,300 arrivals.