Ipswich is one of seven areas in South East Queensland identified for a new satellite hospital under a $265 million allocation announced in today’s State Budget. 

As promised during Labor’s election campaign, the “Australian first” initiative is designed to bring services closer to communities and take pressure off major hospitals, offering accident and emergency services, dental services and specialties such as chemotherapy and dialysis. 

Of the funding $1.6 million is to be spent in this financial year.

Ipswich Hospital will get $43.2 million in this Budget, not quite the $46.5 million promised during the election campaign, towards $175.3 million worth of improvements to facilities and further expansion works.

A new $5 million ambulance station is planned for Ripley under an $18.1 million allocation for new and replacement stations across the State. It would be among three new stations planned across the state.

The projects were part of a $21.8 billion record Health budget to build new and improved hospitals, ambulance stations and health facilities, creating more than 4400 construction and health jobs.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath said today’s 2020-2021 State Budget provided an extra $743.488 million over the previous health budget and included a record $1.625 billion infrastructure spend.

“This year more than ever has demonstrated how vital a strong, well-resourced health system and workforce is to Queenslanders, and to our economy,” Ms D’Ath said.

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue to invest in our facilities and our health workforce to keep pace with our growing population and manage the ongoing COVID-19 challenge.

“We’re employing more doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and paramedics than ever before. 

“Over the next four years we will hire an extra 9475 frontline health staff, including 5800 nurses and midwives, 1,500 doctors, 475 paramedics and 1,700 new allied health professionals. This includes 2,822 in 2020-21 funded in this Budget.”