Regional Victorians will benefit from $9.1 million in Brumby Labor Government funding for hospitals to purchase new state-of-the-art medical equipment.
Launching a cutting-edge diagnostic scanner at Ballarat Base Hospital, Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the 2010/11 Targeted Equipment Program was about giving Victorian doctors and nurses the equipment they needed to continue their fantastic work across the state.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to give Victorians a better health system by ensuring health services have the latest medical equipment to deliver the highest-quality care to patients,” Mr Andrews said.
“Targeted equipment funding enables Victorian public hospitals to stay at the forefront of new technology to ensure they continue to provide the best possible care to patients.
“We are investing $9.1 million so regional families right across Victoria have access to the latest equipment and the best possible care in our first-class hospitals.”
Member for Ballarat East Geoff Howard welcomed the funding for Ballarat Health Services.
“Ballarat Health Services will receive $594,504 to buy 13 ECG machines, four anaesthetic units, four ventilators, two diathermy units, two baby warmers, one neonatal maternity bed and a mobile x-ray unit,” Mr Howard said.
“This equipment will mean the hospital can continue to provide top quality care to families in the Ballarat region.”
Mr Andrews also launched Ballarat Base Hospitals’ new SPECT-CT scanner which will deliver a more accurate analysis and treatment of health conditions for local patients. The new scanner is the first of its kind in Victoria and the first in regional Australia.
“Record funding provided to Ballarat Health Services means the hospital has been able to spend $1.6 million on a purpose-built facility to house a new scanner,” he said.
Mr Andrews said the SPECT–CT scanner was a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool enabling radiologists and treating physicians to accurately identify patient health issues including tumours, neurological disease, heart issues and stress fractures.
“This major advance in medical imaging technology will strengthen diagnosis and clinical service delivery in Ballarat and Western Victoria.
“The technology gives a precise picture of both the anatomy of a patient and the behaviour of tumours and organs in a single scan, saving time while providing a more accurate diagnosis.
“Since 1999, we have committed $43 million to capital projects at Ballarat Health Services, as well as $4.7 million in medical equipment funding and $5.6 million in infrastructure funding.”
(Attached is a list of funding for health services)
2010-11 Targeted Equipment Program (Rural and Regional Health Services)
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Hume Region
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Albury Wodonga Health
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$515,000
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Benalla District Memorial Hospital
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$118,500
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Goulburn Valley Health
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$661,056
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Mansfield District Hospital
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$76,500
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Northeast Health Wangaratta
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$63,360
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Numurkah District Health Service
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$11,000
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Seymour District Memorial Hospital
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$304,785
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Upper Murray Health & Community Services
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$75,000
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Yarrawonga District Health Service
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$23,604
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Total Hume Region
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$1,848,805
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Loddon Mallee Region
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|
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Bendigo Health Care Group
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$630,710
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Boort District Health
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$31,400
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Castlemaine Health
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$135,100
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Echuca Regional Health
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$147,620
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Heathcote Health
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$65,874
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Kyabram & District Health Service
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$286,925
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Kyneton District Health Service
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$46,946
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Swan Hill District Health
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$84,000
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Total Loddon Mallee Region
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$1,428,575
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