Health budget to unite and recover from COVID-19

A $21.8 billion record health budget will help build new and improved hospitals, ambulance stations and health facilities, creating more than 4400 construction and health jobs.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath said today’s 2020-2021 State Budget provided an extra $743.488 million over the previous health budget – includes a record $1.625 billion infrastructure spend.

“Queenslanders elected the Palaszczuk Government so we could keep delivering our strong health response and our plan for economic recovery,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“This year more than ever has demonstrated how vital a strong, well-resourced health system and workforce is to Queenslanders, and to our economy.

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue to invest in our facilities and our health workforce to keep pace with our growing population and manage the ongoing COVID-19 challenge.

“We’re employing more doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and paramedics than ever before.

“Over the next four years we will hire an extra 9475 frontline health staff, including 5800 nurses and midwives, 1500 doctors, 475 paramedics and 1700 new allied health professionals.

“This includes 2822 in 2020-21 funded in this Budget.

“Importantly, our record infrastructure spend in 2020-21 will provide a boost to our local economies through the ongoing creation of jobs at all stages.”

The 2020-21 Budget includes:

• $265 million for seven Satellite Hospitals in south-east Queensland
• $2.3 million towards $111.4 million worth of improved facilities at the Gold Coast University Hospital site, including a new secure mental health unit.
• $26 million for 135 new and replacement ambulance vehicles with power-assisted stretchers to improve patient and officer safety
• $18.1 million for new and replacement stations including completion of facilities at Munruben, Yarrabilba, Drayton, Kirwan, Mareeba and Urraween and planning for new ambulance stations at Ripley, Caloundra South and Ormeau
• $17.8 million towards $33.7 million worth of improved facilities at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital site.  
• $20.7 million towards $69 worth of improved facilities at the Princess Alexandra Hospital site.  
• $43.2 million towards $175.3 million worth of improves facilities and expansion at the Ipswich Hospital
• $8.1 million towards $17.5 million worth of improved facilities at the Bowen Hospital site, including a new Computed Tomography Scanner  
• $100,000 in 2020-21 towards a $6.6 million upgrade at Proserpine Hospital
• $2 million in upgrades at Cunnamulla Hospital  
• $1 million towards a $4.2 million upgrade at Windorah Primary Health Care Centre  
• $9.9 million towards the now-completed $20.2 million redevelopment of the Blackall Hospital  
• $16.9 million to buy the Mater Private Hospital in Gladstone  
• $7 million towards a $10 million upgrade at Emerald Hospital
• $8.4 million towards a $24.2 million upgrade at the Rockhampton Hospital site, including an expansion of the mental health ward
• $1.1 million towards $2.7 million worth of construction projects to improve facilities at the Wujal Wujal Primary Health Care Centre
• $6.8 million towards a $46.0 million redevelopment of the Thursday Island Hospital and Primary Health Care Facility
• $5.1 million towards $17 million worth of construction projects to improve facilities across the Torres and Cape HHS
• $27 million towards $129.8 million worth of projects to improve facilities at the Cairns Hospital site, including a new Mental Health Unit and expansion of the Emergency Department
• $21.9 million towards $83.1 million of construction projects to improve facilities at the Atherton Hospital site, including the redevelopment of the hospital
• $16.7 million towards $62.1 million worth of construction projects to improve facilities at the Townsville University Hospital site.
  
  

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Media contact:  Martin Phillip 0407 675 008