Caboolture Hospital will receive a $253 million funding boost as part of a major hospitals funding package to be unveiled by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today.

The Premier said she was proud to announce such a large and important project as the redevelopment of the Caboolture Hospital.

“This is a very significant announcement for the families and residents of Caboolture,” she said.

“As a Government the three best things we can do for the people of Caboolture are: focus our efforts on jobs and training, deliver hospital and health services, and provide quality education from early childhood through to high school.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said this hospital redevelopment project delivers very significantly in one of these three priority areas – better health services for the people of Caboolture.

“It will provide real benefits for people. Caboolture is a growing community and to keep pace with that growth we need to invest in upgrading and expanding our local hospital facilities,” he said.

“That is what this redevelopment project will deliver.”

Mr Dick said the Palaszczuk Government was investing $679 million in major redevelopment projects at three hospitals in the growth corridors to the north, south and west of Brisbane.

“This funding is for the refurbishment and expansion of the Logan, Caboolture and Ipswich Hospitals,” Mr Dick said.

Labor candidate for Pumicestone Michael Hoogwaerts said the investment would expand Caboolture Hospital’s bed capacity by an extra 130 beds from 260 to 390 beds, supporting the hospital to meet increasing demand.

“The Palaszczuk Government has proven time and time again that it is committed to ensuring Queenslanders have access to quality and modern health services wherever they live, and this is clearly demonstrated through the government’s record of achievement at Caboolture Hospital,” he said.

State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the 2016–17 Palaszczuk Government budget included more than $11 million to develop a new 32-bed adult inpatient ward at Caboolture Hospital and up to $4 million to create up to 300 more car parks to help ease hospital access.

Both projects are now finished and reaping benefits for Caboolture patients and hospital staff.

“This year’s Palaszczuk Government budget also committed funding to expand the hospital’s emergency department.

“This latest announcement only further demonstrates the very high priority that the Palaszczuk Government attaches to providing hospital and health services for the people of Caboolture and employing the frontline staff required to deliver those services,” Mr Ryan said.

He said patients, staff and visitors would welcome the investment.

“I’m proud to be part of a government which is committed to restoring frontline hospital services and investing in health infrastructure that will deliver benefits to the local community,” he said.