THE countdown is on for the opening of the new Mater Hospital Springfield, with the first services set to begin operating from April 13 as part of a staged rollout of healthcare facilities for the region.
From mid-April, expectant mothers will attend antenatal appointments on site, while surgical patients will begin visiting outpatient clinics to consult with their doctors.
The hospital’s operating theatres and intensive care unit will follow a week later, opening on April 20, before full maternity services are introduced on April 27.
The final phase of the rollout will see the hospital’s Emergency Department and paediatric ward open on May 25, marking the completion of a major milestone for healthcare delivery in Greater Springfield.
Once fully operational, Mater Hospital Springfield is expected to treat around 185,000 patients annually and support the delivery of approximately 1700 babies each year, significantly boosting local healthcare capacity in one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions.
The hospital is being delivered by Mater in partnership with the Queensland Government, backed by a $1 billion investment.
This includes $393 million in capital funding and $638 million allocated for operational costs over the first four years.
In addition to expanding healthcare services, the facility is expected to create around 1000 new jobs, increasing employment in Greater Springfield by an estimated eight per cent.
The new hospital will provide 186 public beds, including a 54-bay Emergency Department, offering a wide range of services to meet growing community demand.
Mater Hospital Springfield General Manager Suzanne Hawksley said the opening marked the beginning of a new chapter for healthcare in the region.
“Services will be opening in a phased approach, with lower-complexity departments the first to open,” she said.
“Training for several areas has already commenced on site, with clinical leads now running simulations in the ICU and further simulations beginning as more staff commence.
“Mater has been delivering world-class care to Greater Springfield for more than a decade now – however we are incredibly excited to be entering a new era with Mater Hospital Springfield expanding local access to healthcare from next month.”
