Hospital funding desperately needed
There was one major development and another two important updates regarding hospitals in the West Moreton region this week.
Arguably the most important of these was the announcement of a new 174-bed public hospital section to be added onto the existing Mater Private Hospital at Springfield.
The new public hospital will include an emergency department, intensive care unit and maternity services, with the state government to contribute $177 million to construction. Inspections of the extensions at Ipswich Hospital. Picture: West Moreton Health
With about 100,000 new residents expected to call Springfield and Ripley Valley home over the next five years, and Ipswich Hospital already operating flat out, there is no doubt these facilities will be desperately needed.
Education Minister Grace Grace says she is confident the state government will be able to provide enough classrooms in Ipswich to keep up with the city’s rapidly growing population over the next 20 years