Tag: Mater Hospital Springfield

Mater Hospital Springfield Breaks Ground on Public Health Facility

Construction is well underway on a new public hospital in Springfield, under a public-private partnership that will provide world-class maternity and paediatric services to local families. Once complete, the new public facility will be integrated with the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield.

Read: New Mater Public Hospital in Springfield: A Boost for Healthcare and Real Estate

The facility, scheduled to open its doors in 2026, represents a significant advancement in healthcare infrastructure for the rapidly growing Western Corridor community.

Aerial view of construction at Mater Hospital Springfield (Photo credit: Mater/Facebook)

The hospital is the result of a partnership between Mater and Queensland to expand healthcare services in the region. Once complete, the new public facility will be integrated with the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield (MPHS), providing a combined total of 228 beds.

Key Features

Photo credit: Mater

The new hospital will feature an Emergency Department, an Intensive Care Unit, and a range of specialist services. Its maternity services will include six birthing suites, two birthing pools, 16 special care neonatal cots, and a Pregnancy Assessment Centre.

The new paediatrics unit, expected to open alongside the main hospital in 2026, is projected to handle approximately 2,500 inpatient admissions annually. It will offer acute care for various conditions including chest infections, pneumonia, asthma, epilepsy, croup, and jaundice.

“The new hospital will be part of the nation-leading Mater Mothers’ hospital network – Australia’s largest provider of maternity services, transforming healthcare services for families in the region,” said Suzanne Hawksley, General Manager of MPHS, highlighting the significance of the project.

Photo credit: Mater

This development represents a significant step forward in meeting the healthcare needs of the growing South East Queensland population. The 288 new beds are expected to play a crucial role in addressing the increasing demand for quality healthcare services in the area.

Read: Digging for Truth: How the Goodna Cemetery is Central to the Wolston Park Mental Hospital Inquiry

As construction progresses, local residents eagerly anticipate the enhanced medical care and services that will soon be available in their community. The new hospital is set to become a vital asset, ensuring that families in Greater Springfield have access to top-tier healthcare facilities right on their doorstep.

Published 1-October-2024

Extra Beds at Mater Springfield Opened To Public Flu Patients; Eligible Queenslanders Urged to Get Free Vaccination

Since flu cases spike early in the year and public hospitals reach capacity, the government has been forced to pay for beds at private hospitals, such as Mater Hospital in Springfield, to accommodate public flu patients.

Queensland Health has reported that there have already been a total 7,445 influenza notifications as of 7 April 2019, up from 3,318 at about the same time last year. The year 2017 was one of the worst years for flu with 56,590 recorded notification whilst a total of 15,664 flu notifications were made in 2018.

The public is thus urged to book in for their flu shot this month, before the peak flu season sets in around August, as it generally takes 10 to 14 days to be fully effective. People are also encouraged to continue practising good health hygiene like regular hand washing, covering a cough with a tissue or arm, and staying at home when ill.

“It’s so important for Queenslanders to get vaccinated every year because it’s the best way to protect yourself from the flu,” Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said in his announcement.

Photo Credit:Authentic Images / Pikwizard

“The government provides free vaccines for children under five, pregnant women, Queenslanders over the age of 65 and all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people,” Mr Miles said.

“These vaccines are now on their way to providers and eligible Queenslanders should book in to get their free jab from mid to late April.”

“The latest expert advice is that while protection from vaccination is expected to last for the whole season, the best protection is provided in the three to four months following vaccination,”

“Flu season in Queensland is typically from June to September, with the peak usually in August.

“That’s why we recommend vaccinating sometime between mid-April through to the end of May, to ensure the best protection during the peak of the season,” he said.

Read: Queensland Rail To Add Extra Train Services To Springfield And Other Lines During Peak Times

National Immunisation Program

There are more than 6 million vaccine doses secured this year through the Government’s National Immunisation Program. This will allow Australian’s who are most at risk of getting sick due to influenza virus infection during this year’s flu season can get access to the vaccines.

Under the National Immunisation Program, those eligible for the flu shot include people 65 years and over, pregnant women, and people suffering from chronic conditions. For the first time, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 6 months of age are also eligible to get the flu vaccination.

“The message remains the same: get vaccinated every year because it is the best way of protecting yourself against the flu,” Mr Miles said.