VISITORS to the Mater Mothers’ Hospital at South Brisbane had to do a double take when identical twins Jasmine and Lily Scott and Paris and Madison Nagenaar helped turn the sod to launch the start of work on a $180 million redevelopment of the hospital.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and State Health Minister Stephen Robertson officially launched the start of building works on March 2 – with the help of the two sets of twins.
The new $178.6 million hospital, scheduled for completion in March 2008, will provide an integrated women’s health service, including obstetrics, gynaecology, maternal foetal medicine, perinatal outreach education and midwifery practice.
The new Mater Mothers’ will cater for the growing demand for maternity services in Queensland, including the expansion of the neonatology unit for premature babies.
Mater Health Services chief executive officer Dr John O’Donnell said the hospital would continue to offer both public and private maternity services catering for more than 10,000 births per year.