04 HEALTH NEWS
THURSDAY 13 JULY 2023 TORRES NEWS
Minister’s visit brings boost to health centres Six new or updated Primary Health Care centres in Badu, Boigu and Horn Islands, Laura, Lockhart River and Bamaga are set to go ahead with an investment of more than $150 million announced by Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman on Waiben earlier this week. She said an additional $1.1 million would be invested to help grow the Torres Strait health workforce through traineeships,
scholarships and leadership programs. The Minister made the announcements with Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui. Ms Lui said the health and wellbeing of people in the Torres Strait was a major priority. “The new health facilities and centres mean better health services for people right across the region,” she said. “We will work closely with the local communities to ensure health facilities meet the needs of the
community and deliver culturally appropriate care.” Minister Fentiman said the investments were about delivering better health services and more jobs. “This is all part of our government’s commitment to maintaining and improving health services in Queensland no matter where a person lives,” Minister Fentiman said. “We know that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in our hospitals directly
helps us improve health outcomes for First Nations people. “Our government is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to do that, we need more First Nations doctors, specialists, nurses, carers and allied health professionals.” She said the workforce investment included $800,000 in scholarships for up to 10 students who reside in the Torres Strait Islands to assist with the travel and living costs associated with studying
tertiary health courses away from home. An additional $300,000 would be invested into the Deadly Start program, to provide 15 new traineeships to First Nations health students in the Torres and Cape Region. They said Queensland Health would work closely with the people of Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula to ensure these centres service met the needs of the community and deliver culturally appropriate care.
TI Hospital upgrade reaches Stage 3 construction phase
Thursday Island Hospital redevelopment artist’s impression. Pic supplied.
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Another major milestone has been reached in the upgrade of Thursday Island’s major health facilities with the completion of Stage 2 of the $53 million Thursday Island Hospital redevelopment Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman says. Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said Stage 2 of the Thursday Island Hospital redevelopment works delivered upgraded medical imaging and birthing rooms. “Stage 3 of the project includes a new maternity wing and a new emergency department, and should be completed by the end of this year,” she said. “The hospital and
primary healthcare centre redevelopment show our commitment to the health of people in the Torres Strait, and I continue to advocate for improving health services across the region.” She said Stage 3 construction was expected to be completed by December 2023. Separate to the redevelopment project value, a further $8.1 million was invested to install a CT scanner at the hospital and upgrade the hospital’s water supply system. The new CT scanner was expected to be in place by September this year. The Torres & Cape Hospital and Health Service commissioned local Indigenous artworks for installation in the redeveloped
Thursday Island Hospital and Sibuwani Ngurpai Meta. The hospital and primary healthcare centre works supported around 53 full time equivalent jobs during construction, as well as opportunities for local involvement to help boost the local economy and training opportunities for local people. Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman said the projects meant better health services for more people and more services closer to home. “This is all part of our government’s commitment to maintaining and improving health services in Queensland no matter where a person lives,” she said.
