Central Queensland Health has welcomed the planned expansion of the Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department, marking an important step toward strengthening emergency care for the region.
The redesigned, purpose-built space will provide a more contemporary environment for patients and staff, supporting modern models of care while enabling continued planning for future infrastructure needs at Rockhampton Hospital.
The emergency department expansion will occur in tandem with the construction of an expanded transit lounge, which will grow from 12 to 20 treatment spaces.
It will take over adjacent space currently used for storage and is forecast to be completed by the end of next year.
Central Queensland Health Chief Executive Lisa Blackler said the investment reflects a strong commitment to supporting the growing and changing needs of Central Queensland.
“This upgrade will deliver meaningful improvements for patients and families by enhancing privacy, easing congestion and creating a calmer, more functional emergency care environment,” Lisa said.
“Every day our clinicians provide exceptional care in a very busy environment. This expansion provides them with the contemporary spaces and improved layout that support the delivery of modern emergency care.”
“These improvements will help us respond to community demand now while we continue planning for the future health needs of Central Queenslanders.”
The expanded emergency department will deliver 58 treatment spaces. This includes:
- four additional emergency department cubicles
- three purpose-built mental health cubicles
- a mental health room
- two additional procedure rooms
- a purpose-built sexual-assault examination room
- a purpose-built paediatric zone, and
- an expanded patient waiting room, new reception, new patient amenities and staff facilities.
This expansion was made possible by the addition of 12 new treatment areas delivered in the emergency department during a fast-track upgrade in July 2025 and by repurposing the space freed up when the hospital’s Orthopaedic Clinic was moved out of the main building and into a purpose-built facility.
Central Queensland Health looks forward to delivering these important upgrades and continuing to provide safe, high-quality care for its communities.