$200 million boost for COVID fight

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a $200 million boost for Queensland hospitals.

The immediate injection will go towards dealing with increasing COVID cases and any pressures on the health system as a result.

It’s made possible by Queensland’s strong economic recovery revealed

in last week’s Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review.

The Premier said the first dollars from this dividend will be spent on continuing to keep Queenslanders safe.

“It’s because of our strong health response that we have such a strong economy,” the Premier said.

“Strong and healthy Queenslanders make for a strong and healthy economy so it stands to reason that we should return some of those dividends to keeping Queenslanders healthy.”

The extra funding will be spent in four key areas:

• any increased costs in dealing with increased COVID cases
• capital works
• support for out of hospital care, and
• support for virtual models of care, including virtual care hubs, IT platforms and engaging Health Direct.

It adds to more than $2 billion provided to manage COVID-19 and critical services.

The Palaszczuk government has committed to three new hospitals at Springfield, Coomera and Bundaberg plus seven new satellite hospitals.

Queensland Health’s budget was increased this year to $22.2 billion.