Health Minister on Redcliffe Hospital safety and redevelopment

More ‘security ambassadors’ will be added to emergency departments at Redcliffe and Caboolture hospitals, bolstering patient and staff safety.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls made the announcement at Redcliffe today, also answering questions about the hospital’s redevelopment.

He was joined by State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley, Redcliffe Hospital Executive Director Cang Dang and Metro North Hospital and Health Service Chair Bernard Curran.

Twelve extra security ambassadors will be spread throughout Queensland, including three in Metro North. They will add to a workforce which includes 193 security officers and 27 ambassadors already in Metro North, and 65 security ambassadors through Queensland.

“They’re specifically trained in de-escalation, so they’re there to ensure people who are showing signs that they may become agitated, they may get violent have a person to talk to and have someone with the skillset to de-escalate those issues,” Minister Nicholls said.

“This announcement is really about patient safety. It’s about staff safety and it’s about the security of our hospitals for those who visit them.”

The ambassadors will be allocated according to where they are most needed.

Funding for the positions will come from an additional $8.7 million in the State Budget which will also provide resources for security officers to ensure patients and staff are safe. 

These include body-worn cameras for all security staff, more CCTV, and establishing fixed duress alarms. 

“Here at Redcliffe Hospital, safety is a significant issue because the former Labor Government failed to listen to clinicians, failed to listen to staff and failed to take into account safety and security issues,” Minister Nicholls said.

“(This) has necessitated the redesign of parts of the hospital to ensure there are safe entry and exit areas for staff after hours and for patients.”

State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley said there were 21 security officers and two ambassadors presently at Redcliffe Hospital. 

“Patient and staff safety are paramount, and this additional investment in security reflects that,” Ms Dooley said. 

What’s happening with hospital expansion?

Minister Nicholls announced the next stage of the Redcliffe Hospital redevelopment – the expansion of the multi-storey carpark.

It is understood carparking levels will be added to existing structure and the work will happen while plans for the full hospital expansion are redesigned.

“That (the carpark) is an expansion project and that’s part of about $1.3 billion that we’re investing in our carparking program across the state,” he said.

“The expressions of interest closed in June. We now have a shortlist, or a list of people who are interested in doing the work, and we will ask them for their offers so we can get the contracts going for the development of that ahead of the redevelopment.

“We want to get action happening on that as soon as we possibly can.”

After consulting with Executive Director Cang Dang, Minister Nicholls said the carpark would remain open during the work.

Minister Nicholls said the redesign was needed “to ensure there is a proper paediatric emergency department, to ensure there is a mortuary and to ensure there are proper education and learning spaces.

“This is part of a suite of changes that we are making to enhance safety and security.”

Other components of the redesign include maternity and endoscopy services, and operating theatres. 

“Current design iterations have addressed key issues, including the culturally significant tree, hospital clinical priorities that were not originally programmed like a transit lounge, and safe entries and exits for staff and patients," he said.

It is unclear when the redevelopment project will be completed, with the 2028 timeline promised by the previous Labor government looking unlikely.

“Right here, we have a hospital (expansion) that should have been being built that is $1 billion over budget and two years delayed and that’s why we have the hospital rescue plan,” Minister Nicholls said.

“The redesign is taking place in consultation with the board and with the local executive here and with the clinicians. It’s well underway and I understand a meeting only took place just at the end of last week with the hospital infrastructure team and they are looking at what that redesign looks like.

“I expect that we will get very close to being able to make some more very positive announcements about that by the time we get to the end of the year.”