TCHHS chief executive Rex O’Rourke, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls, board chair Renee Williams and Member for Cook David Kempton prepare to tour the Cooktown Hospital on 15 May. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
The man responsible for the state’s health services has seen for himself the urgent need for Cooktown’s ageing hospital to receive a $200 million upgrade during a Cape York visit on 15 May.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls visited Cooktown and Hope Vale during a regional tour last week, and said being on the ground had provided perspective not possible from the south-east corner of Queensland.
“It’s a great opportunity to be here,” he said.
“This is the first of the really, if I can put this, remote communities that I’ve visited outside of Cairns, outside of Townsville, and it’s really good opportunity to see the circumstances here … and understand exactly the need of the Cooktown community and the broader community in and around this area.”
Minister Nicholls toured the facility, including its helipad, which is currently unable to be used due to concerns about the impact rotor wash would have on the dilapidated infrastructure surrounding it, including the hospital’s tarp-covered kitchen.
“It’s not ideal, let me start off in that way,” he said of the situation requiring patients to be transported to the town’s airport, about 20 minutes away.
“It should have been fixed; it’s 10 years of neglect – the former government knew it needed to be fixed, and that is why it features in our hospital rescue plan.”
Cook MP David Kempton said the hospital, which was built in the 1980s, “wasn’t really fit for purpose then, and it certainly isn’t now”.
The absence of any health services in Lakeland was also flagged with the minister, who said Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service was determining the logistics of establishing a temporary clinic in the gateway to Cape York.
“We know that there’s a real surge of people coming in [to Lakeland], not just with local residents, not just with tourists, but also the farm workers coming through as well,” Minister Nicholls said.
“I’ve spoken to … the chief executive of the health service here about some models of care that we can introduce in there, and we’re looking at co-operating with the council up there about perhaps using their facilities, and what a clinic there would look like.”
Minister for Health and Ambulances Tim Nicholls services discusses the current condition of the Cooktown Hospital with director of medical services Dr Natasha Coventry during a tour on Thursday.
Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes described the minister’s visit as positive, and said she believed him witnessing the condition of the hospital, including the tarped roof of the derelict kitchen, had been an eye opener.
“I think he really appreciated what the challenges were,” she said.
“He appreciated the shortfalls for the community, and how pretty much everything hinges on the redevelopment of the hospital.
“I don’t think that (the tarped kitchen roof) could happen down there [in Brisbane].
“In reality, seeing is believing, so I do appreciate he made the effort to come and do it; this has been going on for a long time, and it’s getting quite frustrating having to wait.”
During the visit, Mr Kempton said the government was committed to returning maternity services to Cooktown.
“My three children, I lived here, and they were born away, which was a massive disruption of our family and financially,” he said.
“So, this health and hospital centre will include birthing and maternity services, which is critical for this town and to keep people here at home.”
Phase one of the upgrade is due to commence in 2026.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls says the State Government is committed to fixing the Cooktown Hospital helipad, which cannot be used due to concerns over the impact of rotor wash on derelict facility infrastructure, as a priority when upgrade works commence.
