| State budget 2000
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FROM THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH
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Tuesday, May 2, 2000
RURAL HEALTH GETS A $60M LIFT
Rural Victorians will receive a $13 million boost in new health initiatives in 2000-01, and $46.4 million of
new capital to rebuild hospitals and provide new ambulances.
Health Minister John Thwaites said the Bracks Government's first Budget recognised the fact that rural
people had a lower health status, and had hurt the most under the former government.
"People in rural Victoria have suffered under the scalpel of the former government, but this Budget begins
the task of restoring and enhancing some of the basic health services that rural people deserve," Mr
Thwaites said.
A highlight of the Budget is $7 million to be spent upgrading regional ambulance services. An additional
$4.4 million in capital funds would be made available to replace an ageing rural ambulance fleet, with 17
new ambulances to be purchased this year.
Capital funding of hospitals has also received a significant boost in the Budget, with major redevelopments
to occur at a number of regional hospitals.
A new hospital will be built in Kyneton ($11 million); Colac hospital will be redeveloped with labour
delivery suites, theatres, accident and emergency services and capital works will take place at Swan Hill
($15 million); $6 million will complete the final stage of the Ballarat Base Hospital's redevelopment; and
$10 million will establish radiotherapy facilities at Bendigo.
A $6 million package to improve the health and well-being of rural and regional communities has also
been funded in the Budget for 2000-01. This will include a number of targeted initiatives, including:
· improved transport for the elderly;
· men's and women's health programs in rural areas;
· health screening and promotion to reduce illness;
· programs to attract rural GPs and nurses;
· support for bush nursing hospitals;
· youth suicide prevention plans; and
· community safety initiatives through Rural Ambulance Victoria.
Mr Thwaites said rural communities would be the major beneficiaries of the $47.5 million upgrade of
nursing homes, with the lion's share of $8 million to be spent on regional nursing homes in the next
financial year to halt the former Government's privatisation of nursing homes.
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