The medical fraternity has welcomed Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's announcement that urgently-needed upgrades to Townsville Hospital's bed numbers and emergency department will be fast-tracked.
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Chris Davis said it was pleasing the government had listened to clinicians and nursing staff at the hospital who had been calling for urgent action.
"We know there has been immense pressure on Townsville Hospital for some time now and it is a relief the Bligh government has listened to the concerns being raised by clinicians and nursing staff at the coalface," Dr Davis said.
Ms Bligh has announced six extra emergency bays would be open by the winter peak season next year and a new wing of the hospital would be opened in 2011.
She said the new wing would include two floors to help deal with increasing capacity into the future and an expanded emergency department.
The government had committed to an extra 78 new beds by 2012, she said.
Of these, eight have opened, another 30 beds would be available in 2009, and the final 40 beds would be delivered by 2011, as part of the new wing, she said.
"I have met doctors and nurses face to face and I understand better than ever the pressure that they are under, and what this means for their patients," she said.
Dr Davis said the government now had a responsibility to ensure Townsville Hospital was continually developed in line with demand to prevent the major north Queensland hospital from again reaching crisis point.
"Townsville Hospital is a major referral hospital for the state, and the government must continue to ensure the hospital is adequately resourced to cope not only with the pressures now but also the region's future growth, which we have already seen is significant," he said.
"A comprehensive plan for future clinical services is still required to provide assurances to the community and staff that there will be sufficient services in place to meet the changing demographic."
