In 2022–2023, West Moreton Health progressed several key projects to help meet continued demand for hospital and health services from a growing population. 

The release of the West Moreton Health Annual Report 2022–2023 this week details the challenges faced and targets set by the health service to meet demand from a population growing at twice the Queensland rate. 

It also noted the near completion of the Ripley Satellite Hospital and Mental Health Acute Inpatient Service building in the 2022–2023 financial year. 

Since the report’s publication, the Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic at Ripley Satellite Hospital has opened and is supporting Ipswich Hospital's Emergency Department. 

West Moreton Health Board Chair Michael Willis congratulated health service staff on their achievements in 2022–2023 but said there was more work to be done. 

"In 2023–2024, we will continue our planning for a 90-bed sub-acute facility on the Ripley site, a 45-bed residential Alcohol and Other Drugs rehabilitation facility in Ipswich, and early works for the stage 2 expansion of Ipswich Hospital, Mr Willis said. 

“The latter project will deliver an extra 200 beds and a new emergency department and operating theatres in late 2027. 

In 2022–2023, West Moreton Health also completed several projects to inform the delivery of safe, quality health care in the years ahead.  
 
“A major priority in the past year has been the creation of a strategy to guide the way we support our First Nations community and ensure that we deliver services in a culturally safe and appropriate way,” Mr Willis said. 

“Through the West Moreton Health First Nations Health Equity Strategy 2022–2025, we are taking steps to remove systemic barriers to equitable health care and are working towards whole-of-organisation change.  
 
"We also published our inaugural Local Area Needs Assessment 2022–2025 (LANA). The LANA is an in-house, systematic review of local health issues to identify gaps in service provision and communities with higher healthcare needs. 
 
"Our vision is of a community achieving its best possible health and wellbeing, and we thank our staff for helping us to realise this vision. We appreciate their passion and determination in caring for our community every day."  
 
West Moreton Health continues to value its strong connections with partners and appreciates the generous contribution of volunteers in supporting patients and visitors. 

West Moreton Health's operating results for 2022–2023 was a deficit of $3.36 million, primarily driven by increasing activity demands, continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures.