The state government says that a $10 million health infrastructure funding injection will allow more hospitals to receive upgrades like recent works at Beaconsfield, Deloraine and others.
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The health services benefited from an initial $15 million package, which has since been expanded as part of the government's construction blitz in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Sarah Courtney said $270,000 was spent on the Beaconsfield hospital to replace flooring, windows and a switchboard, and to upgrade clinical sinks.
"These upgrades will provide better facilities for both staff and patients in our regional health facilities and improved facilities for paramedics at rural stations," she said.
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However Labor's health spokesperson Sarah Lovell said the government's focus should be on preventative health measures, particularly in regional communities.
"We had people waiting too long to be seen in emergency departments, people waiting too long for important surgery and poorer health outcomes," she said.
"Labor welcomes any investment into Tasmania's health system, but what we really need is a government that is willing to take seriously investment into preventative health and community based health care."
Ms Courtney said the government was also committed to increasing bed numbers statewide.
"We've seen that at the LGH with our 4K redevelopment, which is going along well, and we've obviously seen that in Hobart as well with the new K-Block," she said.
"We are continuing to invest both in the quality of our existing infrastructure, particularly in regional and rural areas, as well as looking at ways to be able to increase our bed capacity."
Other facilities infrastructure upgrades by the government include:
- New Norfolk Hospital: body protection, nurse call upgrade and electrical infrastructure works to aged infrastructure.
- Ouse Community Health Centre: body protection upgrade and a water service upgrade to aged infrastructure.
- Midlands Multipurpose Health Centre: electrical services upgrade and nurse call upgrade to aged infrastructure.
- Tasman Multipurpose Health Centre: water supply upgrade
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Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
