New Day Treatment Centre for Townsville
Townsville and North Queensland residents will benefit from national health reform with today’s announcement of a $13.75 million investment in local hospital and mental health services by the Gillard Government.
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Joint Release
The Hon Wayne Swan MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Mininster for Health and Ageing
5 May 2011Townsville and North Queensland residents will benefit from national health reform with today’s announcement of a $13.75 million investment in local hospital and mental health services by the Gillard Government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan said these projects will greatly improve access to quality health care, while also stimulating the local Rockhampton economy and creating jobs.
“Finding room in this very responsible Budget for expanded health services has been difficult, but shows what a high priority it is for the Gillard Government,’’ Mr Swan said.
Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said today that the Government would provide the funding of $12.1 million for a new day treatment centre at Townsville Base Hospital and $1.65 million to the Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland for the construction and fit out of a redeveloped and expanded mental health facility that will benefit Townsville and Far North Queensland.
Funding for the new day treatment centre resulted from a successful bid by the Bligh Government to deliver more surgery sooner to Townsville locals.
“The new day procedure centre at the hospital will have 12 beds for treating same day admissions,” Ms Roxon said.
“There will be two new purpose built procedure rooms and associated facilities including preparation and recovery areas, and new consultation rooms for outpatients.
“Patients will be able to have day surgery instead of having to stay overnight in the hospital. It will reduce pressure on the hospital’s operating facilities, free up hospital beds for emergency cases and reducing waiting times for some elective procedures.”
Queensland Health Minister Geoff Wilson welcomed the news that the Federal Government would work in partnership with the State to deliver these new services.
“The Commonwealth’s $12.1 million contribution to construct the centre comes on top of the Bligh Government's investment of more than $45 million over four years to fund the additional surgery,” Minister Wilson said.
“As a result of this announcement 1,780 extra locals each year will receive procedures like knee arthroscopy and cataract surgery.”
Ms Roxon said the additional investment in the North Queensland was a demonstration of the Gillard Government’s commitment to improving health and hospital facilities in rural and regional Australia.
“The redevelopment and expansion of mental health services will provide a greater level of community mental health services in an area of high need, including a telephone-based outreach service, to a growing population,” she said.
Minister Roxon said the projects had been selected for funding from the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) regional priority round. She said the applications were assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board and found to satisfy the funding requirements.
“These new projects and many other projects around Australia being funded from the Fund’s Regional Priority Round will help strengthen regional health and hospital services and build a better system for the future,” she said.
“Theses projects are part of the Government’s $5 billion commitment to health and hospital infrastructure as part of its national health reform agenda and adds to the Government’s past investment in this region, including our $250 million commitment for Townsville Hospital.’’
For more information please contact Ms Roxon’s office: 02 6277 7220
Summary of Townsville projects
The $12.1 million investment in the new day procedure centre at Townsville Hospital will include:- twelve beds for treating same day admissions;
- two purpose built procedure rooms;
- pre-procedure and peri-operative recovery areas;
- outpatient consultation rooms;
- reception, admissions and support areas; and
- patient change rooms with ensuites.
The $1.65 million investment in mental health services for Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland will provide:
- construction and fit out of a redeveloped and expanded mental health facility; and in-house support services and outreach services.
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