Works to repurpose the old Sarina Hospital into a dedicated transitional healthcare service are now underway at 1 Hospital Street, and $10.4 million has been allocated to the task.
The hospital was flagged for redevelopment following the opening of the new Sarina Hospital on Brewers Road in April 2024.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Interim Chief Executive Sean Birgan said the repurposed 17-bed facility is an initiative to alleviate bed pressures at Mackay Base Hospital and provide a better environment to care for non-acute patients.
“We’re excited the site will be repurposed to provide an additional healthcare facility for people across our communities,” Mr Birgan said.
“This will be a new service for adult patients who have received hospital care and are awaiting further services before their discharge.”
“Many patients can endure long stays on our wards, and hospital is not always the best environment for those who don’t need acute care but do need support with daily living,” Mr Birgan said.
“The site at 1 Hospital Street will become a dedicated 17-bed facility to provide care until supports are in place.”
Upgrades to the building will provide single, double, triple and quad ensuite inpatient rooms, along with consultation rooms, a rehabilitation gym, a lounge and dining room and a cultural family space.
On average there are 30 to 35 non-acute patients across Mackay Base Hospital wards, who do not currently need urgent, emergency or intensive hospital treatment. A high number of these are aged care and NDIS patients awaiting external support services.
Mr Birgan said this had a flow-on effect to other departments.
“At any time, long stay patients can equate to one entire ward of hospital beds which cannot provide acute care,” he said.
“This impacts emergency department patients needing transfer to wards for further care, and scheduled surgeries for elective patients who require post-operative care.
“Repurposing the facility will not only benefit non-acute and long stay patients with the focus on long term management, prevention and quality of life but also contribute to the overall wellbeing of our communities.”
The project will be undertaken in two stages and New State Builders were awarded the Stage One demolition works contract. Stage Two includes main refurbishments works which are anticipated to commence in February 2026.
The project is scheduled for completion in August 2026.