BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 1 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services

The Honourable Tim Nicholls

* TheKirwan Health Campus expansionhasofficially opened, delivering expanded maternity and oral health services for Townsville's growing community. * This is another major project delivered for North Queensland under theCrisafulli Government'sfully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan. * The Crisafulli Government has grown the Townsville Hospital and Health Service clinical workforce by 406 since coming to Government. * After a decade of decline under Labor, theCrisafulli Government isdelivering health services when Queenslanders need them and healing Labor's Health Crisis.

Townsville families will have easier access to maternity and oral health services, with the Crisafulli Government officially opening the $53 million expansion and redevelopment of the Kirwan Health Campus.



The expanded campusisanothermajor project completed under the Crisafulli Government'sfully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan, marking a major delivery milestone as the Government builds the health infrastructure and grows the frontline workforce needed to deliver better health services for Queenslanders.



The expansion brings more maternity care together in one location and increases access to oral healthcare, providing greater capacity to meet the needs of Townsville's growing community.



The new purpose-built, two-storey maternity clinic includes 15 consultation rooms, dedicated ultrasound and procedure rooms and onsite pathology, and will support more than 21,000 outpatient appointments each year.



The expansion has also increased oral health capacity from8to 11 dental chairs, with individual treatment rooms providing greater privacy and new diagnostic imaging and digital dentistry technology supporting more convenient care.



The Crisafulli Government is backing its investment in health infrastructure by growing the frontline workforce needed to deliver care, with 406additionalclinical staff joining the Townsville Hospital and Health Service since theCrisafulliGovernment came to office.



Growing andretainingthe health workforce is particularly important in regional Queensland, where having the right facilities, services and workforce in place means more Queenslanders can access the care they need closer to home.



The former Labor Government announced the Kirwan expansion asdue for completion in the secondhalf of 2024, butfailed todeliver it on time.The Crisafulli Government had to invest an additional $8 million into the project so that it could be completed, after Labor left it underfundedduring their decade of decline,



The Crisafulli Government is now getting on with delivering the health infrastructure North Queenslanders needand healing Labor's Health Crisis, with Kirwan complete and the major expansion of Townsville University Hospital progressing as part of thefully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan.



The Townsville University Hospital expansion will deliver at least 165additionalbeds-22 more than Labor promised-as well as a bigger Emergency Department,medicalimaging facilities, an upgraded coronary care unit and more than 1,000 new car parking spaces.



Constructionwillcommenceon the multi-storey car park in the coming weeks after a 300 space at-grade car park was recently completed to ensure limited disruption during the major works.



Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the opening showed the Crisafulli Government was delivering the infrastructure and workforce needed for a stronger health system.



"Townsville is growing and we're making sure its health services grow with it, with KirwananothermajorHospital Rescue Planproject across the finish line," Minister Nicholls said.



"But new and expanded facilities are only part of the equation, which is whywe'realso focused on growing andretainingthe doctors, nurses, midwives, allied healthprofessionalsand other frontline staff who deliver care every day.



"After a decade of decline under Labor, we're rebuilding the capacity and workforce our health system needs to deliver easier access to health services and heal Labor's Health Crisis."



Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr said theCrisafulli Government was delivering easier access to health services for Townsville families.



"This is aproject Townsville familieshave waited a long time to see delivered, and it's fantastic to see patients now benefiting," Ms Marr said.



"We're not just investing in new facilities,we're growing the frontline workforce that brings them to life, so more locals can access the care they need closer to home."



ENDS



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