Queensland Government Spends Big in Health Budget

Queensland’s Labor Government released its budget, with healthcare to benefit substantially in the areas of hospital services and facilities, ambulance services, disability services and children’s and community  health in a record $14.2 billion investment in the public health sector.
Let’s go through the highlights.
Hospitals
Health capital purchases are $1.3 billion in 2015-16 and are expected to support 3,500 full-time equivalent jobs. Projects include $488.7 million to continue delivery of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and $113.6 million to finalise a number of major projects such as Logan Hospital, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Mackay Base Hospital, Mount Isa Health Campus and Gold Coast University Hospital.
Hospital facilities across the state are receiving major upgrades and refurbishments through the Enhancing Regional Hospitals program to address the state’s most urgent health infrastructure needs, funding vital upgrades and repairs at the Roma, Hervey Bay, Gladstone and Caloundra hospitals.
Structural defects and a range of clinical functionality and backlog maintenance issues will be addressed at Roma Hospital. Planning has also commenced for the development of new infrastructure at Roma to best meet the community’s needs.
Hervey Bay Hospital’s Emergency Department will be expanded to meet increasing demand for services. Gladstone Hospital’s ageing Emergency Department will be upgraded.
$193.5 million to enable the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service to reconfigure service delivery across the region in preparation for the opening of the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital. The hospital will also be refurbished as part of the Schools and Hospitals Fund.
Ambulance
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) receives a budget boost of almost $40 million in 2015-16. Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick says the $633.3 million budget allocation to the QAS – an increase of $39.2 million on the amount spent last year – would support growth and sustainability for the service.
Mr Dick says the funding increase would enable the QAS to recruit an additional 75 paramedics throughout the state.
“This boost to the QAS workforce will help the service keep up with the increase in demand we are experiencing due to our ageing population.
“We have also provided funding for 155 new and replacement vehicles to keep the ambulance fleet in excellent condition.”
“Our program of works includes the completion of replacement ambulance stations at Miriam Vale and Russell Island.
“We will also see the completion of the design phase and start of construction on new or replacement stations in Bundaberg, Collinsville, Birtinya and Rainbow Beach and the continuation of works on the replacement station and relief quarters on Thursday Island.
“I’m also very pleased to announce the start of design works for new stations at Kenilworth and Yandina on the Sunshine Coast as well as a replacement station at Coral Gardens on the Gold Coast.
Disability Services
The NDIS will be launched early in Queensland, with $9 million to build  or upgrade accommodation for people with an intellectual or cognitive disability and severely challenging behaviours. $6.6 million is set aside to continue the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial aimed at assisting elderly parent carers to organise accommodation for an adult son or daughter who has a disability and they can no longer care for them.
$6 million will be spent to build or purchase supported accommodation for people with disability living in inappropriate settings as well as Townsville, Wynnum and Banyo receiving supported accommodation in Cairns, will be established at a cost of $3.1 million.
Community Health Services
Additional places for nurses, community diabetes and sexual health programs and rural health programs also receive funding in the budget.
$361.2 million over four years is pledged to reduce the number of people waiting longer than clinically recommended for a specialist outpatient appointment.
Up to 4,000 additional places will be established for new Queensland nurse and midwifery graduates and 16 new nurse educator positions in Queensland Hospital and Health Services through $110.7 million over four years, in addition to internal funding.
$101.6 million over four years, in addition to internal funding, to employ 400 experienced nurses to help patients navigate the health system.
$27.2 million over four years to take action against Type 2 diabetes and chronic disease through the Health for Life! Program.
A statewide sexual health strategy will be developed, and the Biala Sexual Health Clinic in Roma Street, Brisbane will be overhauled ($18.5 million over four years).
The restoration of a school aged nurse service in the Logan area and surrounding suburbs and to expansion of this service to other vulnerable Queensland communities will be developed over four years with $11.4 million.
$2.5 million over three years is being provided to enable Health Consumers Queensland to independently advocate for patients and their families.
$1.5 million in 2015-16 to enable the Drought Wellbeing Service to continue delivering much needed support to people in drought-affected areas.
Children and Families
$39.8 million over three years has been pledged to help 35,000 families each year through the expansion of the Family and Child Connect program, which connects families struggling to cope with the services they need. New and extra services will be seen in Brisbane, Mackay, Mount Isa–Gulf, Cairns and surrounds, Cape York and Torres Strait.
The Intensive Family Support and Domestic and Family Violence services receives $24.2 million, including new funds of $3.8 million for new Intensive Family Support services in Brisbane, Mackay, Mount Isa–Gulf, Cairns and surrounds,  Cape York and Torres Strait
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family support and child protection services has had its funding increased from $2.4 million to $3.2 million. Families living in discrete Indigenous communities also receive $1.5 million in 2015-16 rising to $2.8 million from 2017-18 for support services.
Continuing funds of $3.3 million to fund the statewide network of Next Step after care services to help young people aged 15-21 as they move out of care to independent lives; and $400,000 to assist community sector partners design a consistent therapeutic framework for improved residential care and support for children who have entered care having suffered trauma.
$595,000 will be spent to design and implement comprehensive health assessments for all children and young people entering statutory care