Sundale waits for nursing home news

SUNDALE must now play the waiting game as the Federal Government considers its application for an allocation of nursing home beds for Palmwoods.

Applications closed on January 30, and will now be reviewed by the Department of Health and Family Services, a process expected to take no more than three months.

Sundale has applied for 34 nursing home or "high care" beds and a further 30 hostel or "low care" beds for Palmwoods.

"We are reasonably confident of being considered," Sundale manager Glen Bunney said. "It is just a matter of how much we get. It’s really a wait and see game now that the application is in."

With only 34 nursing home and 51 hostel beds to be allocated to the Sunshine Cooloola region, which takes in the area from Caboolture to Gympie, Palmwoods’ greatest competition will come from the coast.

However Mr Bunney said Sundale had a good track record and a strong history of having a community focused care facility.

"The points are there on the board so I am reasonably confident of getting something," he said.

Sundale is seeking the full regional allocation of nursing home beds and more than half of the region’s hostel bed allocation.

Mr Bunney said if the bid was unsuccessful, it would be at least 12 months before another opportunity arose.

"Sundale is committed to this project. It is just a matter of getting the beds," he said.