In February 2025, Sandy met with Noosa Hospital CEO Karl van der Merwe, Director of Finance and Support Services Dean Moore and Ramsay Health Care Australia CEO Carmel Monaghan to check on the emergency expansion progress, with no concerns raised by Ramsay. Having reiterated to the new Queensland Minister for Health the importance of continuing to move forward as quickly as possible, the Minister recently advised Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) continues to work with Ramsay to investigate options to further expand the Noosa Hospital, to meet growing community demands and deliver high quality public health services locally.

Our office recently received queries from residents on the specifics regarding the lease including the progress of a long- term lease, state investment and expansion plans as well as the level of investment from Ramsay and the private sector for any agreement. Due to this, we sought clarification from both the Minister and Ramsay who provided the below responses respectively in italics:

Ramsay Health Care

We appreciate the interest in the ongoing discussions regarding the lease between the public health service and the private provider. Both parties are working collaboratively and constructively to progress the necessary steps toward a long-term lease arrangement.

At this stage, we are working with SCHHS on the specific terms of the arrangement and future developments. We remain committed to ensuring that a future Noosa Hospital will support the ongoing delivery of high-quality healthcare services for the local community

The Minister for Health’s office

Ramsay Health Care currently operate the Noosa Private Hospital under a Service Agreement and Lease with the SCHHS. Plans for extending the long term lease and services at Noosa Hospital are currently being considered in alignment with the SCHHS ten-year Health Service Plan for future service delivery. The health service is also working with Ramsay Health Care to investigate options to further expand the Emergency Department footprint to meet the growing community needs. Ongoing discussions are taking place with Ramsay Health Care regarding the site lease extension and capital investment required to meet the future needs of the Noosa and surrounding communities. 

With another response to our office expected from the Minister on various health and mental health related advocacies, Sandy will continue to monitor these discussions between the Queensland Government and Ramsay including following up on confirmation of accompanying services to the lease agreement including:

  • increasing the volume and scope of public general surgery referrals to Noosa Hospital to assist in reducing wait times and travel to SCUH.
  • ensuring further increases in contractual arrangements with Noosa Hospital to fully utilise the ‘interim’ expanded capacity of the hospital’s emergency department, as well when the permanent expansion is completed.
  • continuing the partner funding allocation for the permanent expansion, especially, considering the recent court decision to allow the operators to expand onto the adjacent site.

Further information

For information regarding Noosa Hospital please visit www.noosahospital.com.au

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on this, please head to www.sandybolton.com/?s=noosa+hospital

Updates on many local matters are available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter via www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This also ensures you receive any future Noosa related surveys or polls.