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PDF printable version of National Health Reform Delivers for Hobart (PDF 21 KB)

Joint release

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing

Julie Collins MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services

4 October 2011

Patients in Hobart and surrounds will benefit from better access to emergency treatment, sub-acute hospital beds and cancer services as a result of the Gillard Government’s historic national health reforms.

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and Member for Franklin Julie Collins officially opened Tasmania’s first public positron emission tomography (PET) scanner at Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) today and announced over $17 million in funding that will provide more services and beds for the region.

“The new beds and services will deliver a better deal for patients right across Hobart and Southern Tasmania,” Minister Roxon said.

“The new $7.2 million PET scanner is great news for Tasmanians, and will result in faster diagnosis and better health outcomes for patients in the public health system.

"Health reform will also deliver 10 new psychogeriatric beds at the Roy Fagan Centre, a new CT scanner for the RHH emergency department plus additional equipment and staff for the emergency department, all resulting in better access to care for patients".

Member for Franklin Julie Collins said that the provision of a PET scanner at the RHH was yet another Federal Labor election promise delivered.

“This was an election commitment and I am very pleased to have the Federal Health Minister here today to see that come to fruition,” Ms Collins said.

“Health Reform is delivering the services we need here in Hobart including additional radiographers at RHH to provide a dedicated 24 hour, 7 day per week emergency department CT scan and xray services that will result in better and more efficient care for patients.

“These investments showcase how health reform can provide new and better care for Southern Tasmania and in particular the people of Hobart.”

The Gillard Government’s health reforms will deliver over $2.3 billion of key hospital investments to Tasmania including investments in Hobart such as:

• $340 million towards the redevelopment of the RHH including $100 million for the Women’s and Children’s Precinct
• $4.8 million for cancer services at RHH including the reconfiguration of the existing wards to enable the development of: a multi-disciplinary Outpatient Cancer Care Centre; a third radiotherapy bunker; and a new patient support services centre, part of $18.7 million Tasmanian Cancer Care Project along with funding to the Menzies Research Centre for a tissue bank
• $44.7 million for a new research facility near the RHH
• $5.5 million for the Clarence GP Super Clinic
• New Hobart HeadSpace
• $9.9 million to expand patient transport services for Tasmanians who need to travel to access specialist diagnostic services
• Over $7 million to provide a state-wide registered nurse and GP telephone after hours service as well as over $2 million in grants to local GP clinics in Hobart, Lenah Valley, Derwent Park, North Hobart, Geeveston, Lauderdale, Kingston and Snug to upgrade their practices
• 5 specialist training places in general medicine, psychiatry, pathology and paediatrics and 9 local GP Registrars including 7 at the RHH

For more information about national health reform, visit www.yourhealth.gov.au.

Contacts:
Minister Roxon’s office: 02 6277 7220
Julie Collins’ office: 0427 253 654