MOURA residents voted to support a proposal for a new community hospital that will provide inpatient beds and 24-hour on-site clinical care at a community meeting in Moura on Tuesday evening.
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The news comes after a fiery campaign by locals to save their health service and months of consultation between community members and the CQ Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS).
Debbie Elliot chaired the Moura Hospital Strong, Smart, Sustainable Committee and has been meeting weekly with representatives from the CQHHS to create the model that was approved on Tuesday evening.
Ms Elliot said the new model appeared to be well received by most in the local community.
“I am happy with it because we started out in December with the very real option that our hospital would simply close and we would be left with a treat and transfer facility,” Ms Elliot told Queensland Country Life.
“Now we will have a new purpose built facility and while the current model only has funding for four beds, the local community is aiming to raise additional funds to bring it up to six beds.”
“It is disappointing that there have been some job losses in ancillary staff but I don’t think at any point that anyone believed we would be able to maintain exactly what we had.”
CQHHS board chairman, Charles Ware said the proposed extension to the Medical Centre would include four inpatient treatment beds, three additional consultation rooms, x-ray room, bed-sit with ensuite for parents of admitted children or visiting health professionals, space for Queensland Ambulance Service officers and support services including a small kitchenette for patient meals.
“Moura required a new model of health service delivery - the current, 40-year-old building requires significant maintenance and upgrade and does not meet the requirements of contemporary care,” Mr Ware said.
“The new Moura Community Hospital will be offered from an expansion of the current Moura Medical Centre to allow the efficient delivery of modern health care services.”
“Moura has also been identified as one of the first six trial sites to benefit from the new Rural Telehealth Service in Queensland.”
Queensland Health Minister Laurence Springborg said the Moura health care model could be rolled out across Queensland if it proved successful.
“This is a great opportunity for Moura and for regional communities across Queensland,” the Minister told Queensland Country Life.
“It demonstrates that solutions can be found if people sit around the table and work out issues.”
“The Moura community should be praised for their leadership, understanding and determination to find outcomes that include an effective health service model.”
