The first patients have now settled into Gold Coast Health’s new H Block inpatient facility, marking the beginning of a new connected and compassionate model of care for older adults across the region.
Following H Block’s official opening on 10 September 2025, services commenced from 23 September, with the combined Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) and Acute Cognitive Unit (ACU) ward welcoming the first patients, followed by the Complex Management Unit (CMU), which relocated from Robina Hospital.
Rehabilitation, Aged Care and Community Services (RACCS) Clinical Director, Dr Benjamin Chen, said the transition into the new facility reflects years of planning and the shared commitment of staff across multiple services.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to make sure this opening wasn’t just about moving wards – it was about creating a place where older adults feel safe, seen and supported,” Dr Chen said.
“We know dementia, frailty and complex cognitive conditions deeply affect individuals and their families.
“A thoughtfully designed environment can reduce distress, improve recovery and give people back a sense of control.
“H Block was built with that purpose at its core.”
For older adults who live with frailty, dementia, cognitive impairment or those with complex medical conditions, H Block represents more than a new building.
The purpose-built environment brings dignity, peacefulness and clarity into their care journey and supports a more integrated model of sub-acute care.
Nursing Director RACCS Catherine King said the impact of the environment was already evident.
“There is a noticeable warmth and calmness in H Block,” Catherine said.
“Families are seeing their loved ones supported in spaces that feel reassuring and thoughtfully designed.
“Our clinicians have the room and resources they need and our patients are settling in beautifully – the fish tank has been an absolute hit with our patients.
“It’s a meaningful shift for everyone involved.”
Part of the Queensland Government’s Hospital Rescue Plan, the facility brings together three connected services over three floors under one roof, ensuring older adults and those with complex care needs receive care in the right setting, at the right time.
The facility includes therapeutic terraces, light-filled rooms, restful colour palettes and a carefully considered mix of single and double rooms – all shaped around the needs of people living with dementia and cognitive impairment.
More than 1,600 clinicians completed dementia care training ahead of opening, supported by increased nursing graduate intakes and a new mid-year junior doctor program. Working closely with university partners, these efforts ensure the right workforce is in place across the whole system.
The final stage of H Block will see the standalone 24-bed GEM Unit on the Lower Ground floor open in early 2026, completing the full 70-bed H Block facility.
