The Queensland government said it is investing $191 million in healthcare in the North West in Tuesday night's state budget.
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Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the health budget for the North West was $9.1 million more than last year supporting 780 jobs in the North West Hospital and Health Service.
"On an average day in North West HHS, our hard-working doctors and nurses provide inpatient care to 75 patients, as well as delivering 633 non-admitted patient services, 162 specialist outpatient services and accident and emergency services to 121 people," Mr Miles said.
Mr Miles said the budget would include a $19.2 billion statewide investment in health.
"We're employing more doctors, nurses and allied health staff than ever before - this year's budget will see over 2630 more staff across Queensland," Mr Miles said.
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North West Hospital and Health Service's 2019-2020 budget includes:
. Implementing a North West HHS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy;
. Delivering specialist services to reduce the travel requirements for patients;
. Improving cardiac services by introducing a new Service Level Agreement with Townsville HHS to provide outpatient and investigation support;
. Working to decrease the three top negative health statistics for the region: obesity, smoking and drinking;
. Consulting with remote communities to expand dialysis services in order to provide renal services closer to home; and
. Collaborating with Mount Isa GPs to deliver an Emergency Department Primary Healthcare Transition Project.
Mr Miles said they were investing an additional $77.4 million to tackle waiting lists and improving patient access to specialist services and also $61.9 million of new mental health funding to support the new cross agency Shifting Minds flagship: Taking action to reduce suicides in Queensland.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
