Building Better Hospital services in Alice Springs

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13 July 2009

Residents of Alice Springs and surrounding communities will benefit from a $15.2 million boost to emergency and medical infrastructure at Alice Springs Hospital.

Inspecting plans at the Alice Springs Hospital, the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon said the bulk of the funding – $13.6 million – was provided as part of the Australian Government’s $3.2 billion Health and Hospitals Fund infrastructure package.

“The Australian Government is committed to improving and better equipping our hospitals for the 21st century,” Mr Snowdon said.

“Alice Springs Hospital is critical for the delivery of health and medical services throughout central Australia, and this upgrade is vital if we’re to provide the level of care that local residents and surrounding communities need and deserve.

“The Federal Government has committed $13.6 million towards the construction of a new two storey emergency department which will include 35 treatment cubicles, a 10-bed short stay unit, paediatric and psychiatric assessment areas, and areas for isolation and other medical procedures.

“The existing medical imaging department will also be relocated as part of this upgrade.

“A further $1.6 million of Federal funding will help establish an interim 12-bed short stay unit while the new emergency department redevelopment work is underway, bringing the total commitment to Alice Springs Hospital to $15.2 million.”

Mr Snowdon said the redevelopment project – supported by an additional $8.8 million commitment by the Northern Territory Government – would also mean a better work environment for the local health and medical workforce, and would help improve staff retention.

“The new emergency department will allow for the full introduction of a ‘fast track’ admissions process for patients with less serious conditions who can be treated more quickly and discharged.

“It will also help cut down on elective surgery waiting times and reduce the number of patients who need to travel further for critical health services.”

Alice Springs Hospital has a catchment area of 1.6 million square kilometres servicing a population of 55,000 people in Central Australia, including the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia, in addition to the 40,000 tourists that visit the region each year.

Redevelopment work is expected to begin this year and be completed by 2012.

Media contact: Kate Sieper 0488 484 689.