Frequently asked questions (FAQs) Nambour General Hospital The community we serve Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service covers approximately 10,020 square kilometres. It encompasses the local government areas of Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Noosa; stretching to Gympie at its northern boundary, south to Caloundra and out to Kilkivan in the west. With an estimated resident population of 389,663 in 2015, the region is one of the fastest growing population areas in Queensland. Annual growth is expected to be approximately two per cent per year, with the population reaching more than 434,000 by 2021 and 527,309 by 2031. Nambour General Hospital (NGH) is an acute regional facility that services a diverse population in the Nambour and hinterland region. The NGH has been operating on its current site for more than 90 years; it has a proud history of providing service for its community and being a significant employer for many of the local population. 1. What are the current Services at Nambour? Nambour General Hospital provides an emergency department (open 24/7), a range of surgical and medical services, chemotherapy, renal dialysis, rehabilitation, mental health specialist outpatient services and a range of sub-acute and community health services. The hospital campus is also a significant provider for undergraduate and post graduate clinical placement accommodating on site experience for numerous health professionals in partnership with our university and educator providers. Emergency department Nambour General Hospital provides a 24 hour emergency department service seven days a week. This service is available to all members of the public and is an integral part of the broader Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service. On average, our Nambour Emergency Department sees 100 patients per day. Surgical services Nambour General Hospital provides elective day and overnight surgery for patients including general surgery and orthopaedics, with both day and inpatient care. Medical services Nambour General Hospital has several specialised inpatient wards providing care to our community including general medicine and other subspecialties. Maternity services Nambour General Hospital provides antenatal outreach clinics and postnatal home visiting for women in our community. Child health clinics also operate at Centenary Square in Nambour. The major centre for maternity services and birthing centre is located at Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Mental health services Nambour General Hospital has an inpatient mental health unit located within the campus providing comprehensive care. This is complemented by services operating out of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and extended integrated mental health services provided within our community. Ambulatory care services (outpatients) Nambour General Hospital continues to provide a range of comprehensive outpatient services which are linked as part of the broader hospital and health service. Outpatient appointments at Nambour are provided through the various clinics via speciality, including for example renal dialysis, chemotherapy, diabetes, orthopaedics. This means those patients in the Nambour area who require renal dialysis or chemotherapy can access their treatment close to home. Community and integrated care services Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has significant services provided to the community directly or in partnership with health providers. The Nambour General Hospital campus accommodates many of these outreach services providing a hub from which services may be accessed, including: BreastScreen Queensland, Oral Health, Sexual Health and HIV, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. Services provided in the community may draw on expertise from an array of partnered services and health professionals and has significant engagement with the local GPs as the primary healthcare provider. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Team The aim of the service is to promote the provision of culturally sensitive and appropriate health care, by all health care practitioners across the lifespan for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service community. Our Hospital Liaison Officers sit in the foyer of block 3 Nambour and the Community Programs and Preventable Hospitalisation team are across the road in the Waterfall Road premises. 2. What transport is offered between campuses? Nambour General Hospital is serviced by TransLink buses with stops at the front of the hospital. There are various other options available to patients including: Nambour railway station is about a 1.2km walk to the hospital; taxis; paid car parking and limited street parking. Transport is available for patients to attend medical appointments only under the Commonwealth Home Support Program funding (aged, young disabled, socially isolated, no public transport available at all in area). Phone Community Access Point on 1800 600 300, for help identifying appropriate transport and/or other services for you. Patients may be transferred to other facilities within the health service while an inpatient. Transport for inter-hospital transfers is provided via Queensland Ambulance Service. 3. What will be happening to Nambour General Hospital with the redevelopment? NGH is undergoing an $86 million redevelopment to better service the growing health needs of the Sunshine Coast community. The NGH redevelopment will create connected services for the Nambour region, through a purpose-built physical environment. The redevelopment will support critical areas of emerging health service needs and complement the distinct roles of the other Sunshine Coast hospitals and health services. Nambour General Hospital has a proud history, and the redevelopment of the hospital will continue this history by creating an exciting future. 4. What services will be redeveloped at NGH? After the redevelopment, the community will benefit from: • Redevelopment and increased capacity of emergency care for the residents of Nambour and surrounding areas • Refurbishment and increased capacity of mental health beds to support the requirements of the community • Refurbishment of wards to increase capacity for surgical and medical patients • Establishment of a same day rehabilitation unit • Relocation of renal dialysis unit to a new purpose-built space • Relocation and refurbishment of same day medical infusions and chemotherapy; • Replacement of the central sterilising unit • Providing convenient access for patients from a new drop off zone located adjacent to emergency department • Refurbishment of kitchen • A contemporary safe healthcare environment that meets patient, staff and community expectations. 5. How long is the redevelopment expected to take? Construction is expected to commence in 2019 with final stages of construction completed at the end of 2022. 6. How many beds will Nambour General Hospital have after the redevelopment? After the opening of the SCUH, NGH has operational capacity of 137 beds (111 overnight and 26 day). Post the redevelopment, operational capacity will increase to a total of 251 beds (206 overnight and 45 day). 7. Will services continue during the redevelopment? The project will be completed in multiple stages over four years ensuring minimal disruption to the delivery of health care services. The hospital will remain open and patient services will still be provided but may move to temporary locations. The hospital will continue to support the needs of the community and patients will be notified in advance of any changes. 8. How will the community be consulted on the hospital redevelopment? Consultation and communication between the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service and community/consumer groups will underpin the success of the project. The redevelopment is committed to ensuring patient and staff safety through the design of facilities and services, construction and implementation. The health service has established a Nambour General Hospital Consumer Advisory Group that meets every second month and will provide feedback to the NGH Redevelopment Project. Quarterly open community forums are held at the Nambour RSL where a project update is provided by the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Redevelopment Project Team and Managing Contractor. You can see when the next forum will be held at the website below. 9. What is the number of operational beds at NGH, and what % of beds are overnight and day only? After the opening of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Nambour General Hospital has operational capacity of 137 beds (111 overnight and 26 day). Post the redevelopment, operational capacity will increase to a total of 251 beds (206 overnight and 45 day). 10. How many theatres were there at NGH before SCUH, how many are there currently and post redevelopment? Prior to the opening of SCUH there were 5 theatres and 2 procedural suites. Currently there are 3 theatres available for operating at NGH. After the redevelopment, the option of increasing surgery is available if required. 11. Is there a designated Mental Health treatment area in Emergency Department for receiving Mental Health patients? If a person presents to the Emergency Department and requires treatment from the Mental Health Clinical Team, there are several locations for treatment. After the redevelopment, there will be additional rooms and treatment spaces available for patients, and staff will have a discrete access into the Emergency Department and will not always need to use the main entrance. 12. Why is NGH not