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Big Boost for Regional Health Infrastructure Fund

Health Care budget boosts for the Andrews Labor Government’s flagship Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.

By Portal Admin - 13th May 2018 - Back to News

More patients in Gippsland will be able to get the health care they need closer to home, thanks to a Budget boost for the Andrews Labor Government’s flagship Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing, today announced the Victorian Budget 2018/19 will include a $50 million boost so more hospitals and health services can benefit from the fund – bringing the total investment up to $250 million.

So far, the fund has allocated money to 172 projects across the state over two rounds, including more than $29.4m for health services in Gippsland

In round one, we invested a total of $24,467,219 in Gippsland as follows:

HEALTH SERVICE	TYPE	PROJECT	AMOUNT
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service	Sub Regional Health Service	Replacement of existing Chiller system servicing the Theatre Complex and Medical/surgical ward - Bairnsdale Hospital.	$273,500
Bass Coast Health	Sub Regional Health Service	Replacement of Operating Theatre and Recovery Room air handling units - Wonthaggi Hospital.	$611,000
Bass Coast Health	Sub Regional Health Service	Replacement of two neo-natal resuscitation cots - Wonthaggi Hospital.	$55,400
Bass Coast Health	Sub Regional Health Service	Replacement of water filtration system - Wonthaggi Hospital.	$437,500
Bass Coast Health	Sub Regional Health Service	Installation of sprinkler system to all bed based areas - Wonthaggi Hospital.	$985,350
Bass Coast Health	Sub Regional Health Service	Replacement of Instrument Drying Cabinet - Wonthaggi Hospital.	$17,143
Bass Coast Health	Sub Regional Health Service	Replacement of the central chilled water plant and associated equipment - Wonthaggi Hospital.	$982,000
Buchan Bush Nursing Centre	Bush Nursing Centre	Upgrade of Motor Vehicle - Buchan Bush Nursing Centre.	$18,309
Central Gippsland Health Service	Sub Regional Health Service	Expansion of the surgical services at Sale Hospital to include major orthopaedic surgery.	$4,126,691
Gelantipy District Bush Nursing Centre	Bush Nursing Centre	Upgrade of Motor Vehicle - Gelantipy District Bush Nursing Centre.	$28,388
Latrobe Regional Hospital	Regional Health Service	Expansion of the Special Care Nursery to treat neonates - Latrobe Hospital.	$2,621,000
Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre	Bush Nursing Centre	Installation of CCTV system - Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre.	$3,945
Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre	Bush Nursing Centre	Installation of an automatic switch for the backup generator - Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre.	$6,993
West Gippsland Healthcare Group	Sub Regional Health Service	Establishment and operation of a 3rd Operating Room and required infrastructure	$6,000,000
West Gippsland Healthcare Group	Sub Regional Health Service	Establishment and operation of 8 bed Short Stay Unit	$3,300,000
West Gippsland Healthcare Group	Sub Regional Health Service	Planning for redevelopment Warragul Hospital	$1,000,000
Yarram and District Health Service	Small Rural Health Service	Constructing new integrated Healthcare Centre - Yarram Hospital.	$4,000,000

Meanwhile, in round two, Gippsland received $5,017,806:

HEALTH SERVICE	PROJECT	AMOUNT
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service	Acute ward Nurse call bell infrastructure	$605,400
Bass Coast Health	Body protection to patient care areas	$124,072
Bass Coast Health	Replacement air handling units	$512,000
Bass Coast Health	Replacement of Emergency Lift	$315,000
Bass Coast Health	Replacement fire panel	$287,080
Bass Coast Health	Medical Air compressors and back up medical air manifold system	$205,600
Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre	Bush Fire safety improvement	$49,654
Central Gippsland Health Service	Air cooled Chiller Replacement	$466,000
Dargo Bush Nursing Centre	Vehicle Replacement	$43,412
Dargo Bush Nursing Centre	Mobile ICT device for client communication	$3,823
Ensay Bush Nursing centre	Vehicle replacement and refurbishment of ambulance parking bay	$82,000
Gelantipy District Bush Nursing Centre	Increase power efficiency	$7,255
Latrobe Community Health Service	Expansion of dental prosthetic services	$304,758
South Gippsland Hospital	Reconfiguration of operating theatre and maternity suite	$1,650,000
Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre	Vehicle replacement	$15,785
Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre	Vinyl flooring replacement	$5,967
West Gippsland Healthcare Group	Sub acute bed relocation	$250,000
West Gippsland Healthcare Group	Residential aged care ceiling track and equipment	$90,000
TOTAL		$5,017,806

More round two projects will be announced over coming months.

This year’s boost will fund even more projects to improve the quality and safety of hospital infrastructure, meet growing demand for healthcare and provide world-class equipment to improve patient outcomes.

Last year’s Budget delivered $1.67 billion to support hospitals to meet demand and provide the care Victorian patients deserve, as well as $428.5 million in new hospital upgrades.

This is in stark contrast to Malcolm Turnbull who has declared his intention to short-change Victoria’s hospitals by $2.1 billion – and put patients at risk – with his proposed and deeply flawed National Health Reform Agreement.

Across Gippsland this will hit patients and local families hard.

The agreement Malcolm Turnbull put on the table would mean a $92.3m shortfall for Gippsland that’s the equivalent of 309 doctors, 738 nurses or 13,129 elective surgeries.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

"Support for our regional health services is about more than just words – it’s about delivering real investment to make sure patients get the care they need, no matter their postcode."

Quotes attributable to Member for Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

"Every Victorian deserves access to quality care when they need it. Thanks to the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, we’re supporting our doctors and nurses to do just that."

"This Budget funding boost ensures that even more health services in Gippsland get the upgrades they need so more patients can be treated sooner, closer to home."

"Our investment is making a real difference to patients in Gippsland. We’re giving our dedicated doctors and nurses the modern facilities they need to save lives and keep us healthy."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com