Queensland’s new Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman, visited Gladstone Hospital today to mark the completion of the first surgeries in the hospital’s new West Wing operating theatres.
The facility’s first emergency surgery occurred on Tuesday afternoon, while the first scheduled surgeries began Wednesday morning.
“There is nowhere I would rather be on my first day as Health Minister than right here in Gladstone,” said Minister Fentiman.
“The commencement of surgeries in the new West Wing operating theatres means Gladstone residents can expect to receive the high-quality care they are entitled to.
“I am absolutely committed to supporting our hardworking doctors, nurses, and midwives, and delivering better health outcomes for Gladstone locals.”
The three large theatres are equipped with state-of-the-art pendant lights, cameras, and monitors, while dedicated anaesthetic rooms will create a better flow through the operating theatres, the Minister said.
The West Wing now houses:
- Perioperative Services (including Pre-Admission Clinic, Day Surgery Unit and operating theatres);
- Cancer Care Services;
- Radiation Oncology Satellite Telehealth Service;
- Patient Travel office;
- Visiting private specialists and valued private health service providers like Coral Coast Surgical Specialists, GenesisCare, I-MED Radiology, and CQ Eye.
“The passion and commitment of our dedicated CQ Health team has transformed an outdated, empty building into a bustling hub of health services,” said CQ Heath General Manager, Gladstone and Banana, Jamie Spencer.
“I would like to thank the Gladstone community for their patience as we worked hard to revitalise the West Wing, and I can’t thank our staff enough for their inspiring commitment, every day, to providing great care for Central Queenslanders.”
The Minister yesterday visited Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where she met with staff and management.
“It is a privilege to be appointed Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Women,” said Minister Fentiman.
“Our health workers are heroes. They dedicate their lives supporting us and I’m committed to supporting them.
“I know that Queenslanders right across our state rely on our health system. I’m here to listen and I will spend every single day ensuring we have the highest quality health services. And that work starts now,” she said.
