The Liberal National Government will invest $1.2 million to secure the future sustainability and expand suicide prevention services provided by Richmond Fellowship Queensland throughout North Brisbane.
Government funding will be provided to the Brisbane North PHN to work with Richmond Fellowship Queensland who provide a very effective suicide intervention program to extend support beyond solely the Redcliffe Hospital into the Redcliffe community and also deliver services to patients from Caboolture.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the funding means that Richmond Fellowship Queensland will continue providing high quality one-on-one, non-clinical and practical support to patients discharged from Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospital.
“I visited the wonderful staff of Richmond Fellowship in December following an invitation from local MP, Luke Howarth to see firsthand how support is given to patients following an attempted suicide.”
“I was only too pleased to ensure this important service is not only continued but expanded.”
“Luke Howarth has been a strong supporter of this service and worked hard on behalf of this service to secure this funding,” Minister Hunt said.
Member for Petrie, Luke Howarth, said he was delighted to be able to secure this increased funding for patients discharged from Redcliffe and Caboolture hospitals.
“The great work of the Richmond Fellowship is about keeping people safe, connected to services and well-supported following discharge from hospital when they are most vulnerable,” Mr Howarth said.
“The service fills a vital gap in community services and I am proud that the Liberal National Government is not only ensuring that patients discharged form Redcliffe in my own electorate will have access to this service, but patients discharged from Caboolture, in neighbouring Longman, will also now benefit from the service’s expansion.”
“It’s only because of the strong economic management of the Liberal Nationals Government that we can invest in essential community services like this,” Mr Howarth said.
The Liberal National Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.