$1.25 billion boost to health services improves care in Wide Bay

12/12/2018

$1.25 billion boost to health services improves care in Wide Bay

A guaranteed $1.25 billion boost to health services will improve the health and care of patients in Wide Bay, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

 

The Liberal Nationals Government funding will provide more doctors, more nurses and more health and medical services, Mr O’Brien said.

“This funding boost to our vital health services is the tangible benefit of strong economy, and it’s why the Liberal Nationals Government is so committed to keeping our economy strong,” he said.

“The $1.25 billion Community Health and Hospitals Program will fund projects and services, supporting patient care while reducing pressure on community and hospital services.” 

Under the program, our Government will partner with communities including Wide Bay, states and territories, health and hospital services and research institutions to provide additional funding in four key areas:

• Specialist hospital services such as cancer treatment, rural health and hospital infrastructure
• Drug and alcohol treatment
• Preventive, primary and chronic disease management
• Mental health

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the new program will complement the Coalition’s record investment in public hospitals.

“Our funding for public hospitals across Australia will more than double under the Coalition from $13.3 billion in 2012–13 to $28.7 billion in 2024–25.”

“This is record public hospital funding delivering more doctors, more nurses and more services.”

“Our new five year National Health Reform Agreement will deliver more than $30 billion in additional public hospital funding from 2020–21 to 2024–25, taking overall funding during this period to $130.2 billion.”

“Three Liberal and three Labor states have already signed up to the new agreement.”

Mr O’Brien said a strong economy enables the Liberal and Nationals Government to invest in even more doctors, nurses and public hospital services – benefitting patients across Australia. 

“This is further supported by the record investment in Medicare, provision of medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to make them affordable for patients, and the breakthrough medical science occurring through the Medical Research Future Fund,” Mr O’Brien said.