Boost to hospitals and nursing staff in Queensland state budget

This week’s Queensland state budget allocates $570 million over six years to redevelop and expand Logan, Caboolture and Ipswich hospitals.
 
Smaller regional hospitals will also benefit, with $85 million going towards upgrades of emergency departments in Hervey Bay and Gladstone, a redevelopment of Roma Hospital, and repurposing of the Caloundra Health Service.
 
The number of nurse navigators – nurses who are skilled in complex healthcare needs and able to help patients navigate the health system – will be increased to 400 across the state.
 
Adolescent mental health will also get a boost, with $28 million allocated to a new extended treatment facility at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.
 
Almost $10 million will go towards a new drug and alcohol rehab centre in Rockhampton as part of the State Government’s plan to tackle ice addiction.
 
An extra $155 million will help to extend the Specialist Outpatient Strategy, a move to give patients timely access to specialists.
 
A total of $16 million will go to expand the Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle program, a preventive health campaign aimed at empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to choose healthy foods, regular exercise and quitting smoking.

deadly-choices queensland-budget