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Tasmania's rural areas to benefit from new visiting dermatology and rheumatology services

The nutritional needs of children in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the challenge of petrol-sniffing in the Northern Territory are the foci of new federal government funding announced by Health and Aged Care Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge.

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12 April 2002
KP29/02

Tasmania's rural areas to benefit from new visiting dermatology and rheumatology services

People living in rural and remote areas of Tasmania will benefit from new visiting specialist services in dermatology, rheumatology and urology, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said today.

Senator Patterson said approximately $450,000 would be provided over three years for the services under the Federal Government's Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program.

"This funding will make it possible for a dermatologist to make regular visits to towns such as Burnie, Devonport, Smithton, Ulverstone, Deloraine, George Town and Scottsdale. People living a number of rural towns including Burnie/Somerset, Devonport, Smithton, Deloraine, Westbury, Nubeena and Ouse will benefit from visiting rheumatology services. It is also planned to provide visiting urology services in St Helens."

"These valuable services will benefit not only the individuals involved but also their families and communities," she said.

This funding comes in addition to three Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance programs that are already approved for Tasmania, each of which is being implemented by the Tasmanian Government. These projects include:

  • $279,130 over three years for specialist forensic psychiatry services for people living in regional and remote communities in north and north west Tasmania
  • $534,941 over three years for the provision of specialist medical palliative care in the rural and regional North and West areas of Tasmania
  • $612 330 over three years for specialist general psychiatry services for people living in rural, regional and remote communities across Tasmania.

"It is particularly pleasing to see this example of collaboration between the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments to bring better health services to people living in rural areas."

The Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program helps bring specialist services closer to home for people living outside the major metropolitan areas. It is part of the Federal Government's $562 million Regional Health Strategy: More Doctors, Better Services which is designed to reduce the inequalities experienced by people living in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia.

Media Contact: Marnie Gaffney, Senator Patterson's office 03 9657 9577