Building health infrastructure for our future and opening beds
12 November 2020
Sarah Courtney MP
Minister for Health
2020-21 Budget: Building health infrastructure for our future and opening beds
The Tasmanian Government is investing more in our health system than ever before, with some of the highest levels of staffing of any state or territory, and a huge investment in building modern health infrastructure over the coming years.
Our $391 million capital investment program for health includes $79.8 million over the next four years to deliver a major redevelopment and expansion of the LGH, $89.8 million to continue stage 2 of the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment, including an expanded ED and ICU, and $33 million to continue the Mersey Community Hospital redevelopment.
For our rural and regional communities, the State Budget will deliver $24.4 million over the next two years to upgrade and renovate regional health and ambulance facilities - supporting better care for our patients, modern infrastructure for our staff and new spaces for paramedics at rural stations.
The Government’s health capital investment program is delivering in all three regions, with works either completed, planned or underway at more than 40 facilities around the state. These projects range from painting and flooring improvements, to installing new electrical infrastructure and plumbing works.
This includes improvements to Ambulance access at the Launceston General Hospital Emergency Department, as well improvements to the airlock where ambulance patients are brought into the Emergency Department. Emergency Department and Ambulance Tasmania staff will be consulted in the development of the design.
Importantly, the State Budget also provides $299.3 million over four years to continue the Government’s program of opening new beds at the Royal Hobart Hospital, alongside the $15.4 million over four years for new beds on Ward 4k, and $9.3 million over three years for new services and staff for the Mersey Community Hospital. $21 million of ongoing funding is also delivered for the eight bed Acute Medical Unit opened at the North West Regional Hospital in 2019.
This is a Budget that creates the jobs, certainty and confidence our community needs.