The Federal Government has announced a $6.6 million injection for the Rockhampton Mater Misericordiae Hospital in the 2011-12 Budget.

 

The Rockhampton investment will allow for the construction of new operating theatres and new mental health services and accommodation.

 

“The $6.6 million provided by the Gillard Government to the Mater will enable construction and fit out of two new operating theatres here in Rockhampton,” Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said “A third operating theatre will be built as a shell so it can be fitted out in future as the need arises.”

 

The funding for construction of this new 20 bed unit resulted from a successful bid by the Queensland Government to deliver more mental health services to the region.


Minister Roxon said the projects had been selected for funding from the Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) regional priority round. She said the applications were assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board and found to satisfy the funding requirements.

 

The Federal Government has outlined the following targets as part of the funding

  • Construction and fit out of two new operating theatres at Mater Rockhampton.
  • A third operating theatre will be built as a shell so it can be fitted out in future as the need arises.
  • Twelve patient and family accommodation units will also be built at Mater Rockhampton, helping families out who have to travel to Rockhampton for treatment.
  • Twelve patient and family accommodation units will also be built at Mater Bundaberg, helping families out who have to travel to Bundaberg for treatment.