Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Warren Snowdon, today joined Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, at Ballina Hospital to announce the establishment of a 12-bed rehabilitation and aged care service.
 
In addition, the Gillard Labor Government announced vital funding for emergency department equipment and officially opened Lismore Base Hospital’s new eight-bed Medical Assessment Unit.
 
This funding will help ensure Northern Rivers families have access to more efficient health and hospital services, fitted out with modern high quality equipment.

Member for Page Janelle Saffin welcomed the investments, saying they would deliver improved health services for local families.
 
“I understand that many families in this region are doing it tough and they want to know they can rely on quality local healthcare services,” Janelle Saffin said.
 
The announcements were part of a two day visit to the region, which included a tour and health reform forum at the Ballina District Hospital, a visit to Lismore Base Hospital and Campbell Hospital in Coraki; and a health reform forum at the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health.
 
Today’s funding announcements include:

•  Establishing a 12 bed rehabilitation and aged care service in Ballina, built into an existing ward at Ballina Hospital.
• $242,400 to purchase emergency department equipment for Ballina District Hospital including an ultrasound machine, mechanical ventilator, and cardiac monitoring.
• $183,000 to purchase emergency department equipment at Lismore Hospital 

These investments in new services for the Northern Rivers form part of Labor’s National Health and Hospital Network – with funding provided for in the 2010-11 Budget.
 
Mr Snowdon also officially opened Lismore Hospital’s new eight-bed Medical Assessment Unit, which began operations last month to take pressure off the hospital’s emergency department.
 
This builds on Labor’s previous investments delivered under the Regional Cancer Centres Initiative in Lismore including:

• the establishment of the Lismore Integrated Cancer Care Centre at the Lismore Hospital, meeting a 2007 election commitment 
• More than $9m for a PET/CT scanner, a second linear accelerator and for patient and carer accommodation 

Health reform forums
 
At the health forum held in Ballina and Northern Rivers University today, the Minister for Rural Health said Labor was committed to delivering better health services and better hospitals to regional and rural Australia, including in the Northern Rivers District.
 
Tony Abbott will cut funding to GPs by scrapping grants of up to $500,000 to improve patient facilities and end the GP Super Clinics program. He would cut the after hours GP phone line and e-health funding.