Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2010-04-28
Yesterday, you outlined to the House the Territory government’s health policy and our agreement signed with the federal government. Today, you outlined the single, largest investment in health in the Territory’s history. Can you update the House on this investment and what it means for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. With the advent of the new health networks across Australia and the Northern Territory, the member for Arafura actually pioneered that concept as being the first CE of the Katherine West Health Board.
The budget in 2010-11 will deliver a record $1.16bn for our health system. It will increase nurse numbers, improve waiting times in our hospitals, expand services in critical areas such as renal health, chemotherapy and pathology services right across the Territory.
Territory hospitals are big winners, with all hospitals receiving record allocations. We know that Royal Darwin Hospital will see a significant $43m increase to its budget to secure power supplies for emergencies such as cyclones. Gove District Hospital will receive additional staff accommodation to the tune of $3.8m. Every time I visit Gove, I know the single biggest issue there is accommodation for staff, and that will certainly be a welcome boost for Gove Hospital.
To ensure the people of Palmerston can see a doctor 24 hours a day, we are providing $2m in the budget to operate the Super Clinic. The Health minister and I were out there today to see the Super Clinic coming on in leaps and bounds. There will be an extra $9.5m boost to nurse-to-patient ratios across the Territory. An extra 95 nurses to build on the additional 600 nurses we have recruited since we came to government. The Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre - budget allocation of $7.26m this year for extra staff, expanded chemotherapy services, and a fully refurbished patient accommodation facility.
In Katherine, there is $2.8m for more renal facilities. Let us never forget that it was this Labor government that expanded renal facilities across the Northern Territory, compared to the previous government, which would rather have people walk out into the bush and die than provide renal treatment in Tennant Creek, to the eternal shame of the then Health minister of the day. That is what he said on Lateline.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: An extra $1.7m …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … for the expansion of the Tennant Creek renal unit and, across the Territory, eight more pathology staff, more public health staff and, significantly, more child protection staff.
Over 10 years, and the opposition often talk about what does this mean for patients, we have seen 127 extra hospital beds, 188 more doctors, 616 more nurses, with an additional 95 nurses in the budget this year. We are committed to improving health services across the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. With the advent of the new health networks across Australia and the Northern Territory, the member for Arafura actually pioneered that concept as being the first CE of the Katherine West Health Board.
The budget in 2010-11 will deliver a record $1.16bn for our health system. It will increase nurse numbers, improve waiting times in our hospitals, expand services in critical areas such as renal health, chemotherapy and pathology services right across the Territory.
Territory hospitals are big winners, with all hospitals receiving record allocations. We know that Royal Darwin Hospital will see a significant $43m increase to its budget to secure power supplies for emergencies such as cyclones. Gove District Hospital will receive additional staff accommodation to the tune of $3.8m. Every time I visit Gove, I know the single biggest issue there is accommodation for staff, and that will certainly be a welcome boost for Gove Hospital.
To ensure the people of Palmerston can see a doctor 24 hours a day, we are providing $2m in the budget to operate the Super Clinic. The Health minister and I were out there today to see the Super Clinic coming on in leaps and bounds. There will be an extra $9.5m boost to nurse-to-patient ratios across the Territory. An extra 95 nurses to build on the additional 600 nurses we have recruited since we came to government. The Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre - budget allocation of $7.26m this year for extra staff, expanded chemotherapy services, and a fully refurbished patient accommodation facility.
In Katherine, there is $2.8m for more renal facilities. Let us never forget that it was this Labor government that expanded renal facilities across the Northern Territory, compared to the previous government, which would rather have people walk out into the bush and die than provide renal treatment in Tennant Creek, to the eternal shame of the then Health minister of the day. That is what he said on Lateline.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: An extra $1.7m …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … for the expansion of the Tennant Creek renal unit and, across the Territory, eight more pathology staff, more public health staff and, significantly, more child protection staff.
Over 10 years, and the opposition often talk about what does this mean for patients, we have seen 127 extra hospital beds, 188 more doctors, 616 more nurses, with an additional 95 nurses in the budget this year. We are committed to improving health services across the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016