Next week’s state Budget will fund in full the $12.1 million new St Helens District Hospital.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is Building Tasmania’s Future and that includes investing in regional health facilities so local communities get the health care they deserve in facilities that are fit for purpose.
The St Helens District Hospital has long been an integral part of the St Helens community, however continued flooding at the current site has meant that we need to rebuild.
This year’s Budget will confirm an additional $4 million has been allocated to complete the project, on top of funding in previous state Budgets.
The new hospital will be just two minutes from the current site and features 10 inpatient beds, four emergency bays, four consultation rooms, two physio rooms, as well as three separate rooms to provide education/training, community nursing/treatment and community activities.
There will also be a range of new facilities to provide diabetes care, radiology and oral health.
A development application has been lodged with the Break O’Day Council and a construction tender is expected to be advertised in August, with works to begin in November.
The hospital is expected to be completed by December 2018. Importantly, the current site has room to expand as future care needs and service priorities arise.
The Hodgman Government has got the Budget back on track which has allowed increased investment in health services and to secure the additional funding for this new hospital, which will continue to provide a great level of care to East Coasters into the future.