Gold Coast residents will continue to receive quality health care and hospital treatment with a $107.3 million funding boost to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ as part of the 2017-18 State Budget.
The new budget of $1.391 billion is 8.4 per cent more than the 2016–17 operating budget of $1.283 billion.
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Chief Executive Ron Calvert has welcomed the additional funding to support the Gold Coast community.
“Subject to approval through the Parliamentary process, Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is pleased to have a very fair deal and we look forward to delivering on our contract with the department in the next year,” Mr Calvert said.
Significant investments for the Gold Coast in 2017-18 will include:
- $35.9 million in growth funding to meet projected increases in activity, addressing increasing emergency department presentations, outpatients and elective surgery
- $6.2 million state funding to support initiatives aimed at the reduction of specialist outpatient long waits including a focus on patients waiting for an Ear Nose and Throat appointment
- $5.9 million to deliver additional gastrointestinal endoscopies to meet the growth in demand associated with the national bowel screening program
- $4.6 million for the new Lavender Mother and Infant Inpatient Unit (4 beds)
- $3.0 million to support the fourth and final year of the Integrated Care pilot program
- $2.0 million winter beds funding to assist with increases in emergency department presentations over the winter period
- $2.0 million recurrent funding to commission an older persons bed unit.