The State Budget 2011-12 and the Health Porfolio

The South Australian Government’s State Budget 2011-12 includes a total operating expenditure for the Health Portfolio of $4.63 billion – with an additional $161.0 million over four years ($85.9 million in 2010-11) in operating and investing expenditure for the South Australian health care system.

The State Budget 2011-12 sees vital investment in South Australia's infrastructure including the redevelopments of the Port Lincoln Hospital and Mount Gambier Hospital, a new five chair dental clinic to be constructed in the grounds of the Wallaroo Hospital and a new ambulance station to be built at Mount Gambier.

This budget also reflects the provision of new and enhanced cancer facilities and equipment for Whyalla, regional South Australia and the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

These continued investments in Health, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government, will help us to improve access to health services throughout South Australia.

The Health Budget 2011-12 brochure (PDF 198KB) and Country Health Budget 2011-12 brochure (PDF 304KB) provide more information about the Health initiatives.

Through the budget, the State Government will invest:

• An additional $133.3 million over four years ($85.9 million in 2010-11) to Health Services. This will fund in excess of 19,700 extra patient admissions
• $19.3 million over four years to support BreastScreen SA through the replacement of current analogue mammography technology with digital technology

SA Health Capital Expenditure

The 2011-12 Capital Expenditure for SA Health will be $497.8 million – a record capital expenditure budget for SA Health:

• $43.6 million to continue the $201.7 million stage C redevelopment of the Lyell McEwin Hospital
• $27.7 million to continue the $127 million stage 2 redevelopment of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
• $26 million to continue the $162.7 million redevelopment of the Flinders Medical Centre
• $25.2 million towards the $84.8 million new and enhanced cancer facilities and equipment for Whyalla, regional South Australia and Lyell McEwin Hospital in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government and the state funded redevelopment of the Whyalla Hospital
• $24.6 million towards the $64.4 million upgrade of the Women's and Children's Hospital and $24 million construction to integrate current services into a dedicated children's cancer facility, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government
• $22.9 million for the construction of the Port Pirie GP Plus Health Care Centre, Modbury and Noarlunga GP Plus Super Clinics and towards running Elizabeth GP Plus Health Care Centre
• $22 million towards the $46 million redevelopment of the Modbury Hospital including the emergency department and the provision of a new rehabilitation and therapy centre
• $19.6 million towards the $32.3 million construction of a new state-of-the-art rehabilitation service to deliver 20 new sub-acute beds and improve rehabilitation services at the Repatriation General Hospital
• $16.9 million towards the $41 million redevelopment of the Berri Hospital
• $6.7 million towards the $17.4 million replacement of current analogue mammography technology with digital technology as well as the replacement of the client information system and the third mobile unit in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government
• $5.0 million towards the $39.2 million Port Lincoln Hospital Redevelopment in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government
• $3.4 million towards the $26.7 million redevelopment of the Mount Gambier Hospital in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government
• $1.8 million towards the $3.5 million new ambulance station at Mount Gambier including the purchase of land and construction to the station in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government

Mental health

In 2011-12, the State Government will continue the commitments made towards reforming South Australia's mental health system announced as part of the 2007-08 State Budget ($93.5 million over four years).

The 2011-12 Capital Program includes:

• $16.7 million towards the $19 million investment in the redevelopment of James Nash House at the Oakden site to a 40 bed facility
• $9.4 million towards the $34 million development of six community mental health centres to integrate existing services
• $4.3 million of the $7.3 million investment towards country community rehabilitation centres at Whyalla and Mount Gambier in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government
• $3.8 million towards the $13 million construction of three new intermediate care mental health facilities in the metropolitan area

The 2011-12 Capital Program also includes $54.7 million towards the $128.2 million redevelopment of the Glenside Campus to build a new state-of-the-art 129-bed mental health hospital; 15-bed intermediate care facility; new supported accommodation places for people with mental illness; and drug and alcohol services

Efficiencies

As part of the State Budget 2011-12, SA Health has been allocated additional savings requirements of $20.9 million over three years commencing in 2012-13 to be met through the reduction in funded staffing levels across SA Health.

There has been a deferral of expenditure which has affected the timing of the Noarlunga Health Service redevelopment and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Stage 3A projects. Both projects have been deferred until 2013-14

In addition, a range of savings strategies announced in the State Budget 2010-11 will continue, including Outpatient Reform, Hospital car parking revised fee arrangements and the consolidation of Medical Imaging and Pharmacy Services.