Government provides $2 million funding boost for Kimberley Health Services

20/11/00
The State Government has announced a $2 million capital injection of funds for the provision of additional medical staff accommodation in the Kimberley, Health Minister John Day said today.
"One of the biggest challenges for rural health is the attraction and retention of staff and this initiative will greatly benefit the rural communities in the region," Mr Day said.
The allocation of $2 million will go towards two major staff housing projects in Derby and Broome and is part of $40 million which has been earmarked for State-wide health funding from the sale of AlintaGas.
The $1 million to the Kimberley Health Services for Derby Regional Hospital staff accommodation will see the building of five two-bedroom units.
"It is much easier to keep doctors and nurses in a community if there is quality housing available and this accommodation when built, will provide a vastly improved environment for staff and families," Mr Day said.
The other $1 million in the funding benefit will be used for the construction of two two-bedroom units and two three-bedroom houses for clinical staff accommodation in Broome.
Mr Day said the $40 million for health funding from the AlintaGas sale also included $7.5 million for medical equipment and new accommodation for hospitals and health services in rural, regional and remote parts of WA.
Hospitals serving the Kimberley region will get $270,352 for medical equipment.
More than $100,000 will be provided for the Broome District Hospital for equipment in both the emergency department and the operating theatre, and the Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing District Hospitals will each receive more than $45,000, mainly for new and upgraded emergency department equipment.
Derby Regional Hospital will receive a $13,000 defibrillator and the Wyndham District Hospital $16,713 for new equipment.
"The purchase of important medical equipment and the development of new staff accommodation are the major initiatives which will build on our ongoing commitment to provide quality health care in rural WA," Mr Day said.
"While most of the WA population live in the metropolitan area, there are about half a million people dispersed throughout the vast geographical regions of the State, and it is they who need flexible, modern, co-ordinated health services."
Mr Day said the $7.5 million was a significant boost to the $9.84 million the State Government had already allocated this year to boost health services throughout rural and regional WA.
Media contact: Carole Cowling 9213 6600