The North-West Regional and Mersey Community Hospitals will undergo a range of transformative upgrades including new buildings, new wards and new specialist service units through a package of measures valued at nearly $175 million.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that building a better health system was a cornerstone of the Liberals’ 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

“Our 2030 Strong Plan is all about taking more action now on the issues affecting Tasmanians, including health,” Premier Rockliff said.

“A re-elected majority Liberal Government will transform healthcare for the North-West with a North-West Hospitals Masterplan that lays out a 20-year vision for the region’s two major hospitals.

“Over the next four years, we will invest $174.8 million across the North-West Regional Hospital and the Mersey Community Hospital as part of Stage 1 of our Master Plan.

“At the North-West Regional Hospital, this will deliver a brand new Medical Inpatient building that will include a medical ward, critical clinical diagnostics, dialysis and a lung function lab. We will also build much-needed carparking for patients, family and staff.

“At the Mersey Community Hospital, this will deliver a new sub-acute building for medical oncology services and an inpatient unit for geriatric evaluation and management.

“Our health is so important, and no matter where you live in Tasmania you deserve access to the best hospitals and expert medical staff, and that’s what our North West Hospitals Masterplan will provide.

“This is a 20-year vision that paves the way for decade after decade of carefully planned improvements to acute medical services to meet the growing and changing needs of locals.

“This builds on our strong record of investing in the North-West, including construction of a new Mental Health Precinct underway at the NWRH to replace the ageing Spencer Clinic, while delivering new outpatient clinics, theatre spaces and an expanded medical unit at the Mersey.”

Minister for Health Guy Barnett said the full 20-year Master Plan is a $1.4 billion investment in the health of the North-West.

“We have a vision for the North-West that will ensure patients and staff have the best hospitals and best outcomes for patients,” Minister Barnett said.

“We will work with the Federal Government to secure a funding partnership for these critical projects, just as they have invested in other states.

“Every step of the way there will be opportunities for staff, stakeholders and the community to be involved in detailed planning so we can respond to the changing needs of locals and the workforce, with a constant focus on improving patient outcomes for North-West Tasmania.

“We have a strong record of delivering on our commitments, including an extra 298 hospital beds state-wide and 2,500 health professionals including 1,390 nurses since we were elected.

“In contrast, Labor and the Greens cut the health budget, shut wards and sacked nurses. As people of the North-West will remember, they tried to downgrade the Mersey. What’s worse, is after a federal takeover of the Mersey and resulting windfall, they sent over half that money south.

“Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future we will take action now on health.”