The Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Health and Ageing today met with local health professionals in Launceston to discuss a range of frontline issues and the Government's planned $15 million Integrated Care Centre.
The $15 million Launceston Integrated Care Centre (ICC) is part of the Australian Government's $50 million investment in Tasmanian Health Services.
The Australian Government is committed to working with the Tasmanian Government to provide first class health care to the families of Launceston.
A vital part of this commitment is our investment in the Launceston ICC.
To gain the best outcome for local families it is essential we engage and have input from the experts - the local doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and related health organisations. That is what today's discussions are all about.
Launceston's ICC will employ an innovative model of patient care that enables health professionals to work in a team environment - better linking hospitals, community health services and doctors.
Importantly the services provided by the new Launceston ICC will reflect the specific health care needs of the local community.
The ICC will house a renal dialysis unit from Launceston General Hospital.
Other health services available at Launceston ICC may include:
* Mental health;
* Outpatient chemotherapy;
* Allied health services such as physiotherapy, dieticians, and podiatry; and
* Possible after-hours GP services.
Other commitments from the Rudd Government for Tasmania include:
* $15 million to establish GP Super Clinics at: Devonport, Burnie and Bellerive and Sorrell;
* $10 million for the Tasmanian Patient Transport Initiative;
* $7.7 million towards an additional radiation oncology unit in the North or North-West;
* $3.5 million for a PET cancer scanner at the Royal Hobart Hospital - the first in Tasmania;
* North-West Tasmania and Launceston General Hospital are both locations for expanded Medicare-eligible Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services;
* Tasmanians will also benefit from the Government's $300m investment in improving the transition from hospital to aged care;
* $8.1 million for Tasmanian hospitals to deliver an additional 895 elective surgery procedures during 2008; and
* Nurse incentive payments for 146 nurses to re-enter the workforce in Tasmania.