Qld: Health deal is good for Qld: Bligh

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2010
Qld: Health deal is good for Qld: Bligh

BRISBANE, April 21 AAP - Premier Anna Bligh says Queenslanders can expect more hospital
beds, faster elective surgery and better emergency departments under federal health reforms.

Ms Bligh says $755 million in new funds would deliver significant gains for Queensland.

She has returned from Canberra where she signed what Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is calling
an historic deal for the federal government to become the primary funder of Australian
hospitals.

"This was a once in a generation opportunity," Ms Bligh said after agreeing to the deal.

She said she'd secured her wish to get more money into Queensland's heath system sooner,
and a guaranteed level of base funding for the reforms.

Ms Bligh said the new funds include $150 million to set and meet a new service delivery
target of four-hour treatment in emergency departments.

There's also $160 million to make sure more Queenslanders get elective surgery within
clinically recommended times, and $325 million for 270 new sub-acute care hospital beds
over the next four years.

Ms Bligh said there was also $23 million for new community-based services for young
people with mental health problems, and $148 million for aged-care services.

AAP tnf/maur

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS QLD

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