04 November 2005

Premier announces $3.8 million for rural health services

NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, announced today almost $4 million for vital improvements to hospitals across rural NSW.

The Premier said this investment will provide practical solutions to make rural hospitals more comfortable for patients and the doctors and nurses who work there.

"These improvements lie at the centre of caring for patients and include significant upgrades to air conditioning, staff accommodation for visiting specialists, hospital security, and medical technology.

"To attract the medical workforce to rural NSW we need to back our hospitals and staff with the infrastructure they need," he said.

In the face of the national shortage of medical and nursing professionals, almost $4 million in hospital and accommodation improvements will help to make employment in rural health more appealing.

"These vital improvements to infrastructure will assist 23 hospitals and are part of the State's record $10.9 billion dollar health budget," Mr Iemma said.

The projects include the following:

• $500,000 for the interim redevelopment of Wagga Wagga Base Hospital's Emergency Department to improve service delivery until the hospital redevelopment is completed;
• $430,000 for renovation work at Peak Hill Hospital including reconstruction of the kitchen, renovation of the female ward and remodelling a bathroom;
• $400,000 funding for installation of a new patient lift in the west wing clinical service block of Grafton Base Hospital;
• $350,000 for Narrabri Hospital's Emergency Department which will be relocated and expanded to provide improved access to the public and increased security to staff;
• $344,850 for the redevelopment of Inverell Health Service staff accommodation;
• $300,000 to upgrade the electricity supply and improve air-conditioning at Kempsey Health Campus;
• $250,000 for improvements to sterilising equipment in Goulburn, Griffith, Wagga Wagga and Bega health services;
• $214,310 for the purchase of an echocardiograph machine to support rapid diagnosis and improved access to specialist services at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital;
• $203,500 for the construction of staff accommodation at Gunnedah health service;
• $155,625 for a new, fully air-conditioned, staff accommodation unit at Ivanhoe Health Service;
• $150,000 for the resurfacing of roads and footpaths and upgrading of security in the emergency department and staff car park at Dubbo;
• $150,000 for improving Heated Water Systems in Cooma, Braidwood, Batemans Bay, Boorowa and Moruya health services;
• $132,000 for general repairs and refurbishment of staff accommodation at Goodooga, Collarenebri, and Broken Hill health services;
• $78,276 for the upgrade of pumps at Lithgow Hospital to allow efficient operation of the geothermal air conditioning plant.

The funds also include $215,000 for Macksville and District Hospital Emergency Department announced last week by the Minister for Health.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au