Rockhampton Hospital will today welcome its first patients to the brand new Cardiac Hybrid Theatre, delivered under the Queensland Government's fully funded Hospital Rescue Plan.

The Cardiac Hybrid Theatre brings together a fully equipped interventional cardiology procedure room with advanced imaging technology, supporting a broader range of cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures within a single space.

Starting with diagnostic procedures, including coronary angiograms, the service will expand to include pacemakers and stents, reducing the need for patients to travel to South East Queensland for cardiac treatment by up to 80 per cent.

The highly specialised procedure room will treat nine patients per week in its first three months, with patient numbers expected to increase over the following months.

The $36.9 million expansion includes:

• A Cardiac Hybrid Theatre (Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory)
• A transoesophageal echocardiogram procedure room
• Six recovery bays
• Six new inpatient beds, increasing the Cardiology Ward capacity to 12 beds
• An expanded Cardiac Investigations Unit with seven assessment and diagnostic spaces

As part of the Hospital Rescue Plan, the Queensland Government stepped in with additional funding to save this crucial project and ensure it is delivered in full.

It's just one of the ways the Queensland Government is delivering health services when Queenslanders need them, including building three new and 10 expanded hospitals across the State.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was delivering health services when Queenslanders need them.

"This is world-class cardiac care for Rockhampton and health services when Central Queenslanders need them," Premier Crisafulli said.

"Our Hospital Rescue Plan is delivering more hospital beds and more services across the State, for now and the future."

Health and Ambulance Servies Minister Tim Nicholls said the new specialist service was a major win for local cardiac patients.

“This major milestone means people living in Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Gladstone and wider Central Queensland communities will no longer have to travel to Brisbane for specialised cardiac procedures," Minister Nicholls said.

Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the service would build over coming months.

“Our community has watched on over the past months as this exciting new facility has taken shape, so it’s very special to welcome the first patients through the Cardiac Hybrid Theatre,” Mrs Kirkland said.

"This is just one of the ways our Hospital Rescue Plan is delivering for Rockhampton and Central Queensland, including a major expansion of the emergency department.”

Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the facility was led by specialist cardiologists working alongside a multidisciplinary team of nurses, cardiac physiologists, radiographers and support staff to deliver continuity of care across diagnosis, treatment and recovery. 

"The Cardiac Hybrid Theatre is an absolute game change for us here in Central Queensland," Mr Hutton said.

“The local clinicians working here at Rocky Hospital are so excited about this expansion to cardiology services because it means more efficient, coordinated, patient-centred care."