The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation is thrilled to stand alongside the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) at the historic announcement of a $1 billion expansion of Cairns Hospital.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said the Cairns Hospital Master Plan marked not only a transformation of infrastructure, but a transformation of what is possible for patients, staff and the wider community.
The CHHHS has unveiled its 30-year master plan for the 150-year-old hospital, which has outgrown its current footprint.
The master plan provides a clear roadmap to expand and modernise the hospital so Far North Queenslanders can access the care they need, close to home.
Three new buildings are planned to be built within the next four to five years.
This includes:
* a health innovation and surgical centre
* a staff only multi-storey carpark
* a health management hub.
The health innovation and surgical centre is to be built between Grove, Lake and Digger streets, opposite the hospital’s E-Block.
It will include four new operating theatres, 16 day surgery spaces, 40 overnight inpatient beds, specialist outpatients department, as well as clinical trials, simulation and collaboration spaces.
The new carpark, to be built on the corner of Grove and Digger streets, will have approximately 950 spaces, set aside for staff. This will free up parking in the existing multi-storey carpark and nearby streets for the public.
The health management hub will consolidate the health service’s management, administration and support functions into a single purpose-built facility, rather than having teams dispersed across multiple leased office spaces.
It will be next to James Cook University’s new Yeinie health education building on the corner of Sheridan and Charles Street.
CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh welcomed the master plan and the benefits to the whole community.
“This will deliver benefits in healthcare, as well as to the local economy, driving investment and expanding our workforce along with establishing a knowledge economy within the Far North region,” Ms Singh said.
“Modernising our infrastructure, providing the latest simulation technology and unlocking the plethora of data available to us will mean our clinicians can work with universities and other organisations to enhance research to solve some of the unique health challenges we face here in the tropical Far North Queensland.”
She said Cairns Hospital was at capacity and had outgrown its footprint.
“The Master Plan recognises that while upgrades to ageing infrastructure are essential, refurbishment alone is not enough to meet future demand,’ she said.
‘It is essential that the hospital expands so it can continue to deliver excellent care to our community now and into the future.”
Construction of the new Stage 1 buildings are expected to start in late 2026, following completion of land acquisitions.
Future stages of the Master Plan propose a new Acute Services Building connected with the Health Innovation and Surgical Centre and the current hospital, as well as refurbishment, demolition and redevelopment to some parts of the existing hospital and precinct connectivity and improvement works.
