Tenders have been called for the redevelopment of the St Paul's and Kubin community primary health care centres on Moa Island in the Torres Strait.
Member for Cook David Kempton confirmed on Monday that funding for the $13.5 million project has been allocated by the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service through the Queensland government's Timely Investment Infrastructure Maintenance Program.
Mr Kempton said the benefits of the two redevelopments would include improved patient safety, experience, and improved quality of service delivery and a stronger ability to attract and retain more staff.
"The $3.16 billion Timely Investment Infrastructure Maintenance Program is part of the fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan,'' he said.
"This dedicated maintenance program aligns with the Crisafulli government's broader goals to deliver safe, contemporary health facilities as part of the Queensland Hospital Rescue Plan.
"Health staff in the outer regions of Queensland do a great job amid circumstances that are often challenging, so it's important that we provide the best conditions for them that we can.''
The plan for St Paul's community involves the delivery of a new primary health care centre that will include a procedure room and two consultation rooms. Existing, separate staff accommodation will be refurbished as part of the project and extensive landscaping works will be undertaken. A temporary primary health care centre will be established on site to allow for the continued delivery of health services while the old facility is demolished and a new building is constructed.
At the Kubin Primary Health Care Centre, the plan will see the existing facility upgraded to include a new, enclosed waiting room, a new covered meeting area, a new entry enclosure and a new access ramp.
As part of the project, the health promotion conference room will receive a new roof and covered meeting area, and there will also be a deck extension and enclosure of the upper-level balcony, full internal and external repaint, and landscaping.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service chief executive Rex O'Rourke welcomed the tender announcement.
"Our health service includes some of the most remote and isolated communities in Queensland and we are determined to ensure that we deliver quality health services to all our communities, no matter how remote,'' Mr O'Rourke said on Monday.
Mr Kempton said the state government has also approved business cases to progress for several other health centre redevelopment or replacement projects in the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service region, including primary health care centres at Bamaga, Laura, and Lockhart River, as well as Boigu, Badu and Horn islands.
