The Prime Minister says the future of health is a system that’s funded nationally but run locally.
Kevin Rudd has told Gladstone health workers, local control will focus on areas of need.
He has announced around $3-million will be made available to create clinical training placements for regional areas, including Gladstone.
“What we’re proposing is a system that is funded nationally but run locally but run locally so that here in regional Queensland you can make more and more local decisions about the priorities that you have here,” he said.
“And we the Australian Government will be funding local hospital networks directly, that’s the big change for the future.”
Mr Rudd also announced $67 million to provide a range of cancer services at the Rockhampton Hospital.
“It means that we’re going to be able to ensure that we have the commissioning of three radio therapy bunkers, the construction of a third bunker, 16 chemotherapy chairs, this will enable us to provide more comprehensive cancer care here,” he said.
Victoria Bradshaw from Cancer Council Queensland says the new facilities will reduce the need for cancer patients to travel to Brisbane.
“People within our region, Rockhampton and the surrounding region can actually get the care that they need close to home surrounded by their family and friends,” she said.
“So it’s a pretty stressful time a cancer diagnosis and indeed living with cancer so to have these treatment facilities on our door step it really is tremendous news.”
Queensland Health’s central region Chief Executive says she’s delighted with the funding contributions the Federal Government is making to regional healthcare.
Doctor Coralee Barker says the extra funding announced by the Prime Minister will purchase much needed equipment.
“The announcements that are happening throughout central Queensland and indeed all of Australia, is fabulous,” she said.
It’s a huge injection, a major shot in the arm and we’re very grateful so we’ve been looked after quite well.
“We had the MRI and now the cancer centre and of course the announcement for Gladstone.”