VICTORIA’S rural and regional health services will get a budget boost if the coalition wins a second term in government.
PREMIER Denis Napthine has announced $61 million in additional capital funding grants, including $58 million over four years for major projects through the Rural Capital Support Fund.
“Health services are absolutely vital to make sure that when you need that special assistance it’s there and available to you,” he said during a visit to Ballarat Health Services on Saturday. “This fund has made a real difference to the lives of those living in rural communities, by expanding the services available at local hospitals, ensuring that people can get the health care they need, closer to home.” Dr Napthine also announced an extra $3 million for capital projects at nursing centres in the bush. “This is for our bush nursing hospitals, community-owned and -run services right across regional and rural Victoria,” he said. “There are 22 of those, and we will provide the $3 million fund, so they can apply for their capital funding for doing those things that are really important for those smaller health services that make a real difference.”