ROBINA Hospital is about to expand, with the addition of a medical assessment and planning unit that will be the first of its kind on the Gold Coast.

Queensland Minister for Health Geoff Wilson announced 10 new beds would open at the hospital later this month, with 28 more beds to follow before the end of the year.

“This will be the first of its kind on the Gold Coast and will also be introduced as part of the Gold Coast University Hospital project,” Mr Wilson said.

“To manage demand and keep pace with the needs of our growing population, we need to continually innovate and find new solutions to the challenges facing our health system.”

Gold Coast Health Service District acting chief executive officer Professor Ged Williams said the introduction of the new unit would allow patients to be seen faster.

“A medical assessment unit (MAU), a new ward-style model of care, is being introduced as part of the $274.3 million expansion of Robina Hospital,” Prof Williams said.

“The introduction of the MAU will help to free up emergency department personnel and beds, resulting in more patients being seen in shorter timeframes.

“An example is an elderly person with a minor respiratory ailment that is not immediately life threat- ening. This type of patient will be triaged within the emergency department and can move directly to the MAU for further specialised assessment.”

Prof Williams said the unit would allow emergency department workers to triage patients quickly and more efficiently.

“Robina Hospital's MAU will be specifically staffed and equipped to receive medical inpatients for assessment, care and treatment prior to transfer to an applicable inpatient unit or appropriately discharged home,” Prof Williams said. “This new model of care will be introduced to improve patient flow throughout the hospital.

“It will also help the emergency department to provide timely triage and treatment, as medical patients will move quickly from the emergency department to the MAU.”

MAU units are currently in place at The Prince Charles Hospital, Townsville, Toowoomba, Princess Alexandra and Ipswich hospitals.