The Queensland Government has announced it will call for tenders for the construction of the new $2 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) this month, and is expecting to finalise a contract with Ramsey Health Care for the construction of a new private hospital on the same site.

 

The Premier, Anna Bligh, said that work will start on the new private hospital in October this year. When it opens in late 2013 it will offer public patients treatment under a service purchase arrangement with Ramsay Health Care.

 

The private hospital will provide 200 private beds and 110 extra public beds. The public hospital, developed as part of the state's Public Private Partnership (PPP) program, will open by 2016 and is expected to hold up to 738 beds by its completion in 2021.

 

Ms Bligh said the hospital complex will employ 3500 doctors, nurses and support staff and will also host a $60.8 million Academic and Research Centre for clinician training.

 

Both the public and private hospitals will be built on the 20-hectare site beside the Kawana Waters.