Queensland Health avoids cuts, but $1bn savings plan stands Queensland Health will still have to find $1b in savings despite a furious campaign by hospital boards resulting in $550m in foreshadowed cuts being axed.
Health by Jessica Marszalek
Premium Content
Subscriber only More than half a billion dollars in foreshadowed health cuts have been axed after a furious campaign by hospital boards. Treasurer Cameron Dick has confirmed Queensland Health will not be subjected to a further efficiency dividend , but would still need to make $1 billion in savings already slated last year. The announcement, on the eve of Tuesday s state budget, follows red-hot anger from hospital boards that had refused to sign crucial service agreements and warned they would have to consider draconian measures and cut community services to make requested savings.
Hospital funding desperately needed
There was one major development and another two important updates regarding hospitals in the West Moreton region this week.
Arguably the most important of these was the announcement of a new 174-bed public hospital section to be added onto the existing Mater Private Hospital at Springfield.
The new public hospital will include an emergency department, intensive care unit and maternity services, with the state government to contribute $177 million to construction. Inspections of the extensions at Ipswich Hospital. Picture: West Moreton Health
With about 100,000 new residents expected to call Springfield and Ripley Valley home over the next five years, and Ipswich Hospital already operating flat out, there is no doubt these facilities will be desperately needed.