Major upgrades to our regional health and ambulance facilities to support staff and patients

Sarah Courtney,Minister for Health

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has a Plan to rebuild a stronger Tasmania which includes building a better health system, supporting staff, driving better care and delivering the best possible outcomes for patients.

This is why we are investing a record $9.8 billion in health over the next four years. This means unprecedented funding for our system that will go directly to recruiting record staffing, opening beds and delivering the health services our patients deserve.

As well as our investment in staff and services, we are rolling out a $391.2 million capital program across Tasmania.

For our rural and regional communities, the 2020-21 State Budget will deliver $24.4 million over the next two years to continue to upgrade and renovate our regional health and ambulance facilities, delivering better outcomes for Tasmanians living in regional areas.

This important investment into our rural and regional areas is supporting better care for our patients, modern infrastructure for our staff and new spaces for paramedics at rural stations.

An example of this is the George Town Ambulance Station that has been completed with staff able to utilise the new multi-purpose rooms, bathroom, toilet and locker room.

Further upgrades are currently planned, underway or completed at more than 40 regional facilities around the state, with works completed at Huonville, Deloraine, Zeehan, New Norfolk and St Helens Ambulance Stations. Works range from painting and flooring improvements, installing new electrical infrastructure and plumbing works, to new bricks and mortar health and staff accommodation facilities.

Our health infrastructure investment in rural and regional areas is all about building a better future for all Tasmanians and ensuring patients and staff have access to quality facilities right across Tasmania.

I would like to thank our staff all over the State who have been working incredibly hard during COVID-19 to ensure our community is safe and continually supported.

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