Business
4 June, 2024
Budget boost for vital care
THE Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service is being given an extra $137.3 million this year for a record $1.4326 billion budget.
It includes an initial $60m committed for James Cook University’s Cairns Health and Innovation Centre as well as $24m for a dedicated adolescent mental health unit at Cairns Hospital, the first of its kind in Far North Queensland.
To make room for the new unit, the existing adult inpatient ward on the ground floor of A-Block will be refurbished with eight beds, to allow for new age-appropriate adolescent mental health care and treatment.
The funding for the innovation centre will enable extensive master planning, design development and land acquisition which will all assist in determining the optimum location in close proximity to the hospital.
Premier Steven Miles was in Cairns on Tuesday for the announcement.
“Here in Cairns, that budget will secure over $1.43 billion towards better services and a bigger hospital and health precinct,” he said.
“A key part of that will be a new health and innovation centre – backed by an initial $60m in funding from my government.
“The centre will leverage our Asia-Pacific connections, lead better outcomes for locals, and deliver cutting-edge research on the health challenges unique to the tropics.”
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said “attracting partners and investment in the Cairns Health and Innovation Centre will deliver both health and economic benefits to the region.”
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive officer Leena Singh said the innovation centre would be “a key part of developing the Cairns Health and Innovation Precinct”.
