The redevelopment of the Launceston General Hospital’s Allied Health Department is part of a $4 million capital works package funded by the Hodgman Liberal Government.
We made a commitment to fix Tasmania’s ailing health system and it will continue to be a major focus of the Government this year.
With a record $6.4 billion spend over four years, we have already made major improvements to our health system such as the redevelopment of the Allied Health Department that had not been upgraded since the hospital was built more than 30 years ago.
The redeveloped area includes better spaces for physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition, podiatry, social work, speech and occupational therapy, and outpatient rehabilitation services.
There is also an expanded waiting room and reception areas on Level 2 of the hospital building.
Completion of the first stage of works and re-occupation of the department occurred late last year.
Part of the Allied Health redevelopment is a Special Care Dental Unit (SCDU) which is under construction.
The SCDU will be a welcome addition to the services already provided by Oral Health Services Tasmania in the North, providing a safer environment for patients with acute or complex medical needs.
Completion of the SCDU is expected in February 2017.
In other works at the LGH, the nurse call system is being upgraded where needed, to ensure it remains state-of-the-art.
The duress alarm system is also being overhauled, with both these upgrades to be completed in the first half of this year.
As part of the Hodgman Government’s commitment to employing Tasmanian businesses, the project architects are Philp Lighton and the builder Launceston based Premium Constructions.
This latest project follows a $5 million redevelopment of the hospital's Specialist Clinics, as well as $8 million provided in the 2016-17 Budget to redevelop the 4K children’s ward.
The LGH is a critical part of our One Health System reforms, which will deliver higher quality services and better care for patients.