BRISBANE, Queensland, Aug. 13 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
The Honourable Tim Nicholls
* RockhamptonHospital'sAdult Mental Health Unit expansion is completeproviding more mental health beds and creating new health jobs.
* The new state of the art 32-bed unit provides short to medium-term inpatient assessment and treatment for adults aged 18 to 64 experiencing severe episodes of mental illness.
* The project forms part of theCrisafulli Government'sfully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan, which is delivering major health infrastructure across Central Queensland, after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government has delivered thenew andexpanded Rockhampton Adult Mental Health Unit, providing more mental health beds, creating new healthjobsand making it easier for people across Central and Central West Queensland to access specialist care closer to home.
Delivered as part of thefully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan, the expanded unit has reached practical completion and willopen for service next month.
It'sjust one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services and healing Labor's Health Crisis.
The $92 million expansion increases the unit's capacity from 23 to 32 beds and includes modern patient rooms, collaborative therapy spaces, enhanced security and advanced technology to support the delivery of safe, contemporary mental health care.
Theexpansionis also creating new employment opportunities across Central Queensland, with recruitment underway for more than 40additionalroles, including nurses, doctors, peerworkersand allied health professionals.
Annual funding of$6.74million from the Mental Health Levy will be used to operationalise the expanded Rockhampton Adult Mental Health Unit, supporting theadditionalworkforce and services needed to deliver specialist mental health care for Central and Central West Queenslanders.
The investment comes as the Queensland Audit Office report, released in May, exposed ineffective governance and management of the Mental Health Levy under the former Labor Government, including funding being directed to initiatives that did not align with the levy's intended purpose.
The projectispart of the Crisafulli Government's fully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan,delivering major health infrastructure across Central Queensland, includingtheRockhampton Hospital Emergency Department expansion and cardiac expansion -left unfunded by Labor - and a new six-bed Step Up Step Down youth mental health facility.
Labor and its host of failed health ministers ignored Rockhampton and Central Queenslandduringits decade of decline, allowing Rockhampton Hospital's emergency departmentto descend into a "war zone",withambulance ramping skyrocketingto 56.1 per cent.
Latest health data shows the ramping rate has now been reduced to 28.1 per cent, as the Crisafulli Government continues to makeinvestments in more beds, upgraded facilities and a stronger workforcefor Central Queensland.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services TimNicholls said the expandedmental health unitwas another example ofhow theCrisafulli Governmentwasdeliveringhealth services closer to home.
"AfterLabor's decade of decline, the Crisafulli Government is getting on with delivering the modern health infrastructure and growing the health workforce needed to ensure Central Queenslanders can access high-quality mental health care closer to home," Minister Nicholls said.
"Through ourfully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan,we'redelivering more beds, betterfacilitiesand more opportunities for specialist clinicians to providetimelycare in an environment designed to support recovery.
"With recruitment underway for more than 40 nurses, doctors, peer workers and allied health professionals, this expansion is strengthening local services, creating new careeropportunitiesand giving the community confidence it can accesshealth services, when they need them.
"We are also ensuring Mental Health Levy fundingisdirected to where Queenslanders rightly expected it to go - delivering mental health services.
"While Labor failed to properly manage the Mental Health Levy, we're putting those funds to work supporting the staff and services needed to operate this expanded 32-bed unit and deliver better mental health care for Central Queenslanders."
Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said theCrisafulli Government was delivering easier access to health services.
"This expansion means more Central Queenslanders can access specialist mental health care closer to home, while giving our healthcare workers a modern facility designed for the future," Mrs Kirkland said.
Member forKeppelNigelHuttonsaid the investment would strengthen mental health services across the region.
"TheHospital Rescue Plan is delivering the infrastructure and workforce our region needs, ensuring more people can access high-quality mental health care closer to home," MrHuttonsaid.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:Emma Morton,0410 657 890
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
