Private health service providers in Queensland have been awarded over $4 million from the Australian Government’s $36 million Rural Private Access Program.

The program, a refocus of the former Bush Nursing, Small Community and Regional Private Hospitals Program, was established to advance private health services in rural areas across Australia, improving medical services and facilities where they are needed – in local bush communities.
Queensland Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce said such a large injection of funding across the state was welcomed news as it will improve and enhance various health and community services.

“Nationwide, this round of the grant program will support 98 projects, managed by 68 different rural private health organisations, covering every state and the Northern Territory,” Senator Joyce said.

“It will significantly enhance the capacity of the private health sector to deliver quality services to local communities.”

The grants are primarily for capital works and for purchasing equipment such as anaesthetic monitors and operating theatre equipment. Other projects will include establishing intensive care units, training, speech pathology outreach services, mobile physiotherapy services, renal dialysis and rehabilitation services.

This funding round of $10.7 million is additional to the $7.4 million announced in June 2005.

The Rural Private Access Program is part of the Rural Health Strategy that provides $830 million over four years for health and aged care services and workforce measures.