Queensland Health Archives

New Senior Living Apartments Unveiled at Bernborough Ascot

A new retirement complex has opened in Ascot, with Poinciana House adding 53 independent living apartments to the Bernborough Ascot community.

New Milestone for Vertical Retirement Living in Ascot

Queensland’s Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, has opened Poinciana House, the latest addition to Keyton’s Bernborough Ascot community. Located beside Doomben Racecourse, the development introduces 53 new apartments to what is described as Australia’s first vertical retirement community within a racecourse precinct.

A Growing Retirement Precinct

Bernborough Ascot forms part of a $1.5 billion redevelopment being led by Brisbane Racing Club. The precinct already includes Fig Tree House, which has reached full occupancy. Poinciana House is the second residential building in the development, designed to support long-term independent living and wellness for older Australians.

Bernborough Ascot community — *Photo Credit: Balmain & Co./Instagram*

The development has been delivered in partnership with builder Balmain & Co, which highlighted the project’s sustainability credentials and emphasis on lifestyle-focused design.

Features and Facilities

Poinciana House offers a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments across multiple floorplans. Apartments have been designed to maximise natural light, storage, and functionality, with two interior finish schemes available.

Residents have access to an extensive selection of health and lifestyle facilities, such as a rooftop terrace, magnesium indoor pool, sauna, gym, fitness area, bowling green, café, and shared dining and lounge spaces. Allied health consulting rooms are located onsite, along with a concierge desk, parcel services, and a personalised health and wellness program.

retirement house — *Photo Credit: Balmain & Co./Instagram*

A 24-hour emergency call system and pharmacy delivery service are also available to residents.

Sustainable Recognition

Bernborough Ascot has received a 6-Star Green Star Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, recognising its commitment to sustainability and urban regeneration. Poinciana House contributes to this rating with its environmentally focused design and energy-efficient features.

senior living apartments — *Photo Credit: Balmain & Co./Instagram*

A Model for ‘Ageing in Place’

Keyton has positioned the development as part of a broader shift toward integrated retirement living. With the adjacent Opal Healthcare’s Ascot Grove Care Community scheduled for completion in 2027, the precinct aims to provide a continuum of care allowing residents to transition between levels of independence without leaving the community.

The company has reported strong interest in the new apartments, with over 70 per cent of Poinciana House already sold.

Published 9-May-2025

Queensland Health Inquest After Albion Woman’s Death

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Queensland Health and the state’s Opioid Treatment Program will face scrutiny in an upcoming inquest into the fatal prescription drug overdose of an Albion woman. The inquiry, scheduled to begin on December 9, will examine the death of Alexandria Catherine Forrester, 39, who succumbed to methadone toxicity in September 2021.

Forrester was found unresponsive in her Albion home on September 20, 2021, and passed away in hospital the following day. A pre-inquest conference at the Brisbane Coroner’s Court revealed that Peter Morrow, a friend of Forrester’s, had collected her prescribed methadone doses from Brisbane Compounding Pharmacy on the morning of the incident, despite not being authorised to do so.

The inquest will delve into several crucial aspects of Forrester’s case, including:

The appropriateness of her treatment under the Queensland Opioid Treatment Program
The dispensation of methadone to Forrester and Morrow
The adequacy of Queensland Health measures in addressing concerns or non-compliance between health service providers and pharmacists
Whether any individual’s actions contributed to Forrester’s death

Forrester’s complex medical history, including asthma, Hepatitis C, chronic pain, and a history of heroin abuse, will be considered. The court heard that she had been flagged as “a doctor shopper” and was allowed to self-administer six methadone doses per week, with one dose to be taken under supervision.

Concerns about Forrester’s medication regimen had been raised previously. In May 2020, following a hospital admission, staff alerted Queensland Health’s monitored medicines unit and Forrester’s GP about the number and combination of her medications, as well as her access to takeaway methadone doses.

The four-day inquest is expected to call up to 10 witnesses, including Morrow, Forrester’s current and former GPs, and the pharmacists who dispensed her medication.

Published 9-October-2024

The Doomben Racecourse in Ascot is Now a COVID-19 Vaccination Hub

Just as Queensland reaches a million delivered COVID-19 doses, a new vaccination hub has opened at the Doomben Racecourse in Ascot to facilitate more vaccinations to the Brisbane community.

Ascot’s Doomben Racecourse has become the latest addition to Queensland Health’s constantly-expanding network of COVID-19 vaccination hubs, and according to Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, Doomben is well-equipped and ready to deliver the vaccine to eligible Queenslanders. In total, Queensland Health has expanded its network of vaccination hubs to 18 across the state in total.

The fact that the establishment was already well-known to many Queenslanders and had good transport links meant that it was easy to access. “It’s the perfect location for our growing network of vaccination hubs, which are vaccinating an ever-growing number of Queenslanders,” said Minister D’Ath.

Photo credit: Commander Keane/Wikimedia Commons

Queensland Health is focusing on delivering vaccines to people between the ages of 40 and 49 who have registered for the vaccines, as well as residential aged care workers and disability staff. Vaccinations are also available to frontline staff such as health workers, police officers, and paramedics.

“Today Queensland is set to hit a total of one million COVID vaccination doses delivered, through our GP and pharmacy networks and Queensland Health hubs,” added Minister D’Ath. “Over the last week alone, Queensland Health has administered 71,471 vaccinations, including a record 11,827 yesterday. We want to continue to grow these numbers to get even more Queenslanders protected in this ongoing global epidemic.”

The Doomben Racecourse can be found at 75 Hampden St, Ascot. Eligible Queensland residents interested in registering for the COVID-19 vaccine can do so via the Queensland Health website here.