New Tara Hospital welcomes first patients and the beginnings of modern accommodation for staff
- The Crisafulli Government officially opens Tara's new state-of-the-art hospital.
- The new hospital has 12 inpatient beds, an expanded emergency department and specialist outpatient services.
- Planning for $5.4M onsite staff accommodation has commenced.
The Crisafulli Government has officially opened the new Tara Hospital - and commenced work on new staff accommodation - reinforcing its commitment to delivering easier access to health services in rural and regional Queensland.
The new hospital – which replaces the 60-year-old facility located next door – features digital connectivity, larger emergency department treatment spaces, single rooms for inpatients and a larger palliative care room and lounge.
Planning has also commenced for the $5.4 million staff accommodation project which will feature modern 1-bedroom units and have their own bath, laundry, kitchen/dining and living area.
The modular accommodation will be constructed offsite and assembled where the old hospital is currently located, providing dedicated health workers with a comfortable and safe space to live and work.
Unlike Labor who ignored regional and rural Queenslanders for a decade, the Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services across our State.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the new Tara Hospital formed part of the $1 billion Building Rural and Remote Health program dedicated to improving regional healthcare services.
"The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland with easier access to health services, across our state," Minister Nicholls said.
"It's vitally important that we have great services and great facilities close to where people live, particularly in rural and remote Queensland.
"Additionally, investments in new healthcare facilities are crucial for small communities - like Tara - to continue attracting health professionals to the regions.
"We know that when recruiting staff, an important factor in their decision making is the age of the facility in which they'll be working, and the conditions of the home where they will be living.
"While we are in the early stages of planning and consultation on the staff accommodation, private units have been prioritised based on direct feedback from the Director of Nursing and staff.
"Tara Hospital is the now the newest hospital in the state and I'm confident that this new hospital will serve the Tara community well for decades to come."
