Mater has opened the doors on a new era for health care with Queensland’s newest public hospital. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Brisbane Archbishop Shane Mackinlay blessed the Mater Hospital Springfield and joined Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young and Premier David Crisafulli opening the doors on Wednesday.
Archbishop Mackinlay said the state-of-the-art public hospital stood as “a testament to what can be achieved through vital community partnerships and marks a significant milestone for a rapidly growing community”.
“Providing the highest quality public health care with care and respect for the dignity of each person is central to our Catholic mission to serve the vulnerable and the sick,” he said.
“The Sisters of Mercy opened the first Mater hospital in 1906 and I am delighted to see Mater continuing to expand its compassionate, healing presence in our community, walking alongside local families right where they live and where it matters most.”
The 186-bed public hospital will provide care for around 185,000 patients a year, with services including an Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and surgeries in six operating theatres.
The hospital will also bring birthing services to Greater Springfield for the first time with around 1700 babies a year due to be delivered in its 16-bed maternity unit.
Mater Hospital Springfield was built and will be operated through a partnership between Mater and the Queensland Government, which has announced funding of $638 million over four years to deliver public healthcare services at the hospital.
Mater board chair Patrick Brady said the new hospital was a demonstration of Mater’s commitment to addressing the unmet healthcare needs of Queensland communities.
The nine-storey hospital adjoins Mater Private Hospital Springfield, which opened in 2015.
Medical specialties delivered at Mater Hospital Springfield include paediatrics, gastroenterology, ENT surgery, general surgery, chemotherapy, gynaecology, obstetrics, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, urology and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The hospital’s maternity unit comprises 16 patient rooms, 16 Neonatal Critical Care Unit cots and six birth suites.
Almost 1000 staff will be employed at the facility, including 335 nurses, 65 midwives and 135 doctors.
FULL STORY
Archbishop Mackinlay blesses Mater’s new public hospital serving Greater Springfield (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
RELATED COVERAGE
Mater opens doors to Queensland’s newest public hospital (Mater via Catholic Health Australia)
