23 May, 2019

Michael Ferguson MP

2019-20 Budget: Investing in health services in the North-West

The Hodgman Liberal Government is continuing to invest in the essential health services and infrastructure the North-West needs in this year’s State Budget.

We believe all Tasmanians deserve access to the best possible healthcare, which is why we are opening more acute and sub-acute beds on the Coast, investing in vital infrastructure, and increasing services.

This year’s Budget is about maintaining the momentum and investing for growth. For the North-West, that includes:

• More than $20 million over four years to staff the eight new beds at the North West Regional Hospital
• Continued funding for 27 new drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds in the North and North-West, including $2.4 million in this year’s Budget for 12 beds in Ulverstone and five beds at Serenity House in Sulphur Creek as part of the beds opened last year
• Continuation of our $35 million Mersey Community Hospital upgrades, with $31.6 million in this year’s Budget to complete the works
• $4 million for brand new services at the Mersey Community Hospital, which will follow the completion of the redevelopment
• A new Ambulance Station in Burnie and extra paramedics in Wynyard
• $2 million to complete the construction of the new antenatal clinic at the NWRH
• $9.8 million to complete Stage 2 of the King Island Redevelopment. These works will deliver a range of improvements to acute care, emergency and after-hours access, and a kitchen upgrade
• Roll-out of the highly successful Community Rapid Response service, which enables patients to be treated at home or in the community, reducing demand on our hospitals. This service will include an estimated 17 FTE staff, including 12 new nurses