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Photos supplied by the office of Glen Kelly, Member for Mirani MP
Sarina is set to gain 34 new beds, with work now underway to boost hospital capacity and support local patients.
Residents in Sarina may notice work underway on the newly announced modular unit at the Brewers Road hospital campus, with the project being delivered in conjunction with Health Infrastructure Queensland.
The new unit will provide 17 adult inpatient beds at the existing Sarina Hospital campus, forming part of the Queensland Government’s plan to ease hospital congestion and increase capacity for patients experiencing delayed discharge.
The project is in addition to the transformation of the former Sarina Hospital at 1 Hospital Street, which will provide a further 17-bed transitional care facility. Together, the two projects will increase capacity in Sarina by 34 beds, with the former hospital redevelopment expected to be completed by late 2027.
Member for Mirani Glen Kelly MP recently met with Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Chief Executive Sean Birgan and hospital representatives to announce the additional beds.
Stage Two works at the former hospital will include internal refurbishment to provide single, double, triple and quad ensuite inpatient rooms, consultation rooms, a rehabilitation gym, lounge and dining room, and a cultural family space. The campus will also undergo driveway and foundation works to improve access to the facility.
Mr Kelly said the new beds in Sarina would complement the Queensland Government’s masterplan for Mackay Base Hospital, which includes 128 new beds, expanded services including birthing, and more than 1,000 car spaces by 2030.
“Sarina is a growing community, and it is important that our health infrastructure keeps up with the needs of the Sarina,” Mr Kelly said.
“These two projects will deliver 34 new beds in Sarina and provide more appropriate care options for patients who don’t need to remain in an acute hospital bed but still require support.
“Importantly, freeing up acute hospital beds also means greater capacity across our health service for emergency admissions and elective surgery.”
Mr Birgan said the 17-bed adult inpatient unit at Brewers Road would form another element of the Mackay Hospital Expansion Project.
“This is another element of the Mackay Hospital Expansion Project and it’s all about increasing our capacity to provide patients with the right care in the right place,” Mr Birgan said.
“The reality is that the demand for those long-stay patient beds is continuing to increase. These are patients who are not in need of intensive hospital care but do need support with daily living.
“Late last year we had an average of 30 to 35 patients in this cohort and this week we have about 90 patients.
“Our numbers have essentially tripled.”
The modular unit will be relocated from a hospital site in northern New South Wales, with commissioning expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Mr Birgan said the two Sarina projects would help improve care delivery across the wider region.
“This approach addresses two key priorities for us in that we can provide more beds for those long-stay patients, which in turn gives us the beds we need to perform more elective surgery,” he said.
“The hospital setting is not always the best environment for those who don’t need acute care but do need support with daily living.”
The latest Queensland Health point-in-time census identified 54 patients experiencing delayed discharge across Mackay Isaac region hospitals, including 43 older aged care patients and 11 younger NDIS patients.
Mr Kelly said the additional capacity represented an important investment in local health infrastructure.
“It is absolutely shocking that 54 people in hospitals across our region are clinically fit for discharge but remain there because the appropriate beds, services and Commonwealth supports simply aren’t available,” Mr Kelly said.
“For Sarina, this is a significant investment in our local health infrastructure and another important step towards ensuring our health services grow alongside our community.”
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