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NEWS
Cairns Local News
University Hospital One Step Closer
Friday, October 2, 2020
IT was a short walk across the road for the Premier and Cairns Hospital Management, however it was a critical walk to announce the Cairns University Hospital was one step closer to fruition. The Queensland Government will invest $15 million to acquire land for a new research precinct near Cairns Hospital to be built in partnership with James Cook University. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the announcement – part of the Cairns/ FNQ Regional Recovery Action Plan - was in addition to a $52.9 million investment in upgrades for Cairns Hospital committed at the recent Cairns Community Cabinet. “This land will be for the construction of a purpose-built research, education and innovation (REI)
multidisciplinary sion clinic
pre-admis-
• $2 million to add a new endoscopy room precinct in close proximity to the hospital, in collaboration with JCU,” the Premier said.
a research, education and innovation precinct at the Cairns Hospital
“It’s a crucial further step following last month’s commitment to upgrade the hospital and begin planning with JCU to transition the facility to a university hospital, bringing our current commitment to $67.9 million.”
• $1.5 million for the preliminary business case to start planning for a research and training facility and additional beds to cater for future population growth
The $67.9 million investment includes: • $15 million for land for
• $800,000 to fit out a 12th operating theatre • $20.7 million has also been committed to critical upgrades at Cairns Hospital which will cater for projected future demand on utilities at the site.
• A $26.4 million expansion of the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the land announcement comes on top of the previous funding to support jobs for the region.
• $1.5 million to turn a currently unused space into a
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the
Palaszczuk Government will continue to invest in the Far North region. “We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic is a long-term response that requires a long-term approach and we will continue to work with the Far North community on creating more opportunities for future growth,” he said. Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the land announcement was another step towards supporting local students to study in the region. “We have a great health
system here in Cairns, and it will be fantastic for the next generation of health professionals to be able to learn right here in the Far North,” he said. Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said living in rural and remote areas can mean having to travel for complex health care, just as health students from the region need to travel far for their clinical placements. “Having Cairns become a university hospital will mean students living in North Queensland and live and learn closer to home,” she said.
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