$7M Bowen Hospital Medical Imaging Wing Opens

Bowen Hospital’s $7 million Renal Unit and Medical Imaging expansion officially opened last weekend after 20 months of construction.

The major project saw the addition of a new, comprehensive hospital wing which now houses a range of services including a CT scanner - ending the need for Bowen patients to travel to Proserpine or further for important medical scans.

The multi-million-dollar upgrade also included an expansion to the hospital’s renal dialysis unit, with both the unit and the expansion named in honour of Cyril Isbell – a member of a prominent Collinsville grazing family who had business interests in Bowen including a butcher shop and hotel.

The new unit will provide additional dialysis services to support more patients and meet the future needs of Bowen and the surrounding areas.

The combined new equipment is expected to benefit 800 patients annually.

Special guests at the official opening included Graham Isbell and family members to represent the Cyril Isbell estate which contributed $1 million towards the project – with a further $7 million provided by the previous Federal and the Mackay Hospital and Health Board’s retained earnings.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Interim Chief Executive Paula Foley said this was a “significant milestone for local public health services and a wonderful day for the Bowen community.”

“On behalf of the Mackay HHS, I wish to express our gratitude to the Isbell family and to the federal and state governments for their contributions that made this expansion possible,” Ms Foley said.

“It is a milestone for local public health services and a wonderful day for the Bowen community.”

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said it was excellent to see the previous Federal Government’s investment of $5 million come to fruition with this “this vital bit of equipment”.

“It will save lives and save a lot of downtime for nurses and staff. For many patients, this will also mean they don’t have to travel to Townsville or Mackay,” Mr Willcox said.

State Member For Burdekin Dale Last said that “every now and again, you have a win, and this is one of those occasions”.

“[I’ve] been fighting for so long to have this facility open here in Bowen,” Mr Last said.

“This community no longer have to travel through to Proserpine or Mackay or up the road to Townsville and have these scans. It’s adjacent to the emergency department as well, meaning those people who come into this hospital can get first class treatment.

“Fantastic outcome for this community and a real community effort. Big tick for everyone concerned today.”

The need for a CT scanner was raised in years past by countless locals, including Bowen Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hedditch – and a member of the Bowen Hospital Community Reference Group - who had repeatedly asked Mr Willcox’s Federal predecessor, George Christensen.

Mr Christensen, before retiring from politics, was integral in securing the funding for the new hospital wing.

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Bowen Hospital’s new Renal Unit and Medical Imaging expansion officially opened on Sunday, December 11. Pictured are Bowen Hospital staff and dignitaries with Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox alongside the hospital’s new CT scanner

Family members of the late Cyril Isbell, whose estate donated $1 million towards the $7 million expansion

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