PM Transcripts

12
-Ii" Us THALIA~ 3 December 1974
QUEENSLAND HOSPITAL GRANTS
Following a question to Dr Everingham in the
House of Representatives today, the Prime Minister has
released details of new Australian Government grants
to ease Queensland's hospital problems.
Mr Whitlam said he had written to Mr Bjelke-
Petersen on 30 November giving details of decisions
arising out of the most recent meeting of the Joint
Hospitals Works Council for Queensland.
The Queensland Minister for Health has been
advised that an initial. Australian Government Grant
of $ 5.151 million has been made available for the
approved hospital program in Queensland for 1974/ 75.
Mr Whitlam said that of this sum, $ 2.678 million
was for hospital projects already being planned or
constructed. Among projects that could be assisted are
Stage II of the Cairns Hospital, construction of a
medical and services block at Rockhampton, extensions
to Mt Isa Hospital and new obstetric facilities at
Mt Gravatt as the first stage of a new teaching hospital.
A grant of $ 200,000 towards construction of a new
dental hospital in South Brisbane has been included for
this financial year. This does not include $ 14,000
for Sandgate Medical and Dental Clinic which is not in
the hospital grounds.
Mr Whitlam said that $ 1.023 million would be
provided towards psychiatric services. A main feature
would be accommodation for intellectually handicapped
persons at the Rockhampton-and Baillie Henderson ( Toowoomba)
Hospitals and Basil Stafford Training Centre at Brisbane.
Mr Whitlam said that many Queensland hospitals
were in need of substantial upgrading and re-equipping, and
$ 520,000 had been allocated for major equi pment purposes and
$ 400,000 would go towards ward refurbishing.
General hospital projects under construction such
as a new ward block at Southport Hospital and new outpatient
facilities at Chermside will benefit from the remaining funds.