Those were the words of Health Minister Geoff Wilson to the people of Mount Isa as he opened Block D, the $65.2 million first stage of the redevelopment of Mount Isa Hospital.

"There is no doubt this project is a major boost for Mount Isa," Mr Wilson said.

Stage one illustrated the commitment the government has to improving health care in the North West, he said.

"This new facility is part of the Bligh Government's commitment to delivering more services sooner and closer to home for locals in the Mount Isa region.

"That has been my mantra."

The health district's chief executive officer Suzanne Sandral paid tribute to her staff at the opening of the new block.

"It's all about hard work and our dedicated staff have been working hard to upgrade this hospital, improving training and development opportunities for young doctors."

Recruitment and retention rates for all staff had improved, and she was delighted that all 24 Registered Medical Officer positions had been filled by permanent positions this year.

The Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan delighted the audience with her recollection of an early morning phone call from the state treasurer Andrew Fraser in 2008.

"He told me the government was selling its share of the Brisbane Airport and part of the proceeds, $65.2 million, would go towards the Mount Isa Hospital.

"You've gotta love the fact that they sell something in Brisbane to build something in Isa," Mrs Kiernan said.

She said she felt she had single-handedly worn down three health ministers in the time it had taken to build D block.

Mrs Kiernan said work would now begin on Stage Two of the redevelopment, which is expected to be completed in late 2012 and would more than double the size of the Emergency Department.

Mr Wilson paid tribute to the representatives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait members of the community who in close consultation with the architects had influenced the design.

"The use of colour in the building is simply spectacular."

Stage two and subsequent stages would deliver still more improvements, Mr Wilson said.

He said 400 jobs were created out of this construction project in Mount Isa.

"Forty thousand jobs have been created out of $7 billion worth of hospital expansion over the past four years in Queensland.

"That boils down to a programme of 1700 extra beds and 250 extra treatment spaces throughout the state," Mr Wilson said.