Page 1858 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 June 2014
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Budget—health infrastructure
DR BOURKE: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, the ACT budget continues the delivery of major health infrastructure in the ACT. Can you outline for the Assembly the key capital projects that you have funded in the budget?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Dr Bourke for his continuing interest in the health infrastructure program, and it is a great pleasure to update the Assembly on all the projects that are in the budget. I will continue to talk on our record of completely reforming the health system, building top-quality facilities. In fact, I was at the women’s and children’s hospital this morning and had the opportunity to speak with some women who had recently had babies about how the facility was second to none in the country. It is a wonderful feeling, as health minister, to walk through a building that offers such great amenity for patients and staff.
In this year’s budget the University of Canberra public hospital will proceed. That is a very important component of the overall network of hospital services here in the territory, alongside Canberra and Calvary hospitals. This will provide opportunities for teaching and research through partnerships at the University of Canberra and, we believe, will have a very significant positive in terms of the work and opportunities presented at the University of Canberra. I hear already, just from placing a public hospital here, the approaches to the university to co-locate other health services there have risen considerably.
There will also be $43½ million for a secure mental health unit. This has been funded to construct a 25-bed facility that co-locates acute and rehabilitation beds on the one site.
There is the investment in the Calvary hospital to deliver a car park. This will enable construction of a 700-vehicle car park on the Calvary hospital Bruce campus. At the same time, there is a grant provided to Calvary hospital for the expansion of electrical substations, which is essential for that campus as it continues to expand. There are also going to be additional beds at Calvary Public Hospital, 15 additional beds, which is partly delivering on our commitment around beds at Calvary hospital that we made in the election campaign.
There are also extra beds to be provided at Canberra Hospital. So there is money in the budget to ensure that we are able to continue the refurbishment and decanting work that needs to go on at the Canberra Hospital. There is also money for other infrastructure upgrades and, of course, the relocation of the ophthalmology services from Canberra Hospital to improved and refurbished accommodation within Calvary hospital.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, with funding in the budget to progress the—
MADAM SPEAKER: Preamble.
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