Yumba-Meta get $7m funding boost to finally get empty remote patient facility up and running
A $5.7m facility sitting empty for years in Townsville will finally open its doors to remote patients in a matter of months with the state government pledging almost $7m to get it up and running.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Amputee forced to live in hospital as $5.7m facility sits empty
- ‘Cruel new low’: MP’s fury over empty patient facility
A $5.7m facility sitting empty for years in Townsville will finally open its doors to remote patients in a matter of months, with the state government pledging almost $7m to get it up and running.
Yumba-Meta will receive $6.9m over three years to operate the Karingal Patient Transition Accommodation facility on Riverway Drive, Rasmussen.
The funds – split between the Department of Housing and Queensland Health – will help remote patients coming to Townsville for medical care stop falling into a ‘vicious cycle’ of homelessness.
It comes after the Townsville Bulletin embarked on a campaign to get the state-of-the-art facility up and running following shocking revelations it had been sitting empty since 2021.
At the time, Yumba-Meta CEO Dushy Thangiah said they might resort to funding it themselves after spending years in negotiations with the state government.
The delay has meant that desperate remote patients like Mornington Island amputee Ruth Escott have been forced to chose between living in a hospital bed or being homeless while they get medical treatment in Townsville due to an accommodation shortage.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said he has been working closely with Yumba-Meta and the Health and Housing Ministers to have this issue resolved as quickly as possible.
He said securing $6.9m in operational funding for Karingal was a “fantastic outcome.”
“This is a great facility that will help take pressure of Townsville University Hospital,” he said.
“I do not want to see vulnerable people stuck in hospitals when we have quality facilities like this in Townsville.
“I will always fight for a good and sensible outcome for organisations like Yumba Meta in our community.”
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon argued the state government only had to step in after the former Morrison Government “neglected” to provide operational funding for Karingal after committing $2.89m to its construction.
“This facility is more than just a roof, it will provide a supportive environment where patients can heal, access care, and regain stability in their lives,” she said.
The Karingal facility will be staffed 24/7 and includes sixteen male beds, eight female beds, four self-contained units for families, and private consultant rooms for visiting health specialists and other agencies.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said she was “proud” to announce the operational funding for Karingal after meeting with Yumba Meta staff during her first week as Health Minister.
“This important service will provide patients with culturally appropriate support to navigate their way through what is generally a difficult time,” she said.
Originally published as Yumba-Meta get $7m funding boost to finally get empty remote patient facility up and running
Join the conversation
Free events foster connections for Veterans Health Week
As Veterans Health Week kicked off on Sunday, a Townsville-based charity has launched a series of free events aimed at boosting the social, physical, and mental well-being of local veterans and their families.
Read more
New business delivering IV vitamin drips direct to your door
A North Queensland clinical nurse is bringing a trendy health treatment to Townsville that offers mobile IV drips to customers. Read why the founder says it will enhance overall health.
Read more