Tasmanian State Budget 2019: Expanded emergency department for RHH in $132 million health spend

THE State Government will commit $132 million in Thursday’s State Budget to open and staff new beds in the Royal Hobart Hospital, including an expanded ED.

Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein addresses parliament. Picture: DAVID KILLICK

THE State Government will commit $132 million to open and staff new beds in the Royal Hobart Hospital in Thursday’s State Budget, Health Minister Michael Ferguson says.

The money will be spent over the next four years after stage 1 of the hospital’s refurbishment was completed, he said.

Increases in bed numbers at the hospital would mean that 300 more nurses, 60 more doctors and 40 allied health professionals would need to be employed.

“The budget is about maintaining the momentum and investing for growth in essential services,’ Mr Ferguson said.

“This funding will see more than 100 new beds open at the RHH over the next four years, delivering a huge long-term capacity boost for acute health services for the entire state.

“In addition to this funding for staff and services, we are also investing in the vital health infrastructure we need to deliver additional services.

“This includes $90.6 million to build a bigger ED and a bigger ICU, with the space for 10 new intensive care beds, and upgrade wards, over three years.

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Mr Ferguson said the expanded emergency department would include a separate mental health area for the first time, as well as a separate area for paediatric treatment.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein yesterday again flagged the budget as one of the biggest infrastructure budgets in Tasmanian history.

“Unashamedly this will be an infrastructure budget. It will maintain momentum and invest for growth,” he said.

”There will be $1.6 billion for roads and bridges and significantly other investments in terms of hospitals and homes and schools as well,” he told reporters.

Mr Gutwein said there would be $200 million in the budget for housing.

The Government also revealed yesterday it would raise the Foreign Investor Duty Surcharge.

The budget will increase the rate of the FIDS on residential property from 3 to 7 per cent, and on the purchase of primary production land from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

The increases will be implemented from January 1, 2020.