A Shorten Labor Government will make further upgrades to Cairns Hospital so it can provide more life-saving endoscopies and better services to patients about to undergo surgery.

Labor will invest $2.3 million to build a third procedure room in the hospital’s endoscopy unit to keep up with rising demand for these important services.
 
Without this investment, waiting lists will continue to grow and people will be denied the timely care they need.
 
Labor will also invest $1.9 million to build a new Multidisciplinary Pre-admission Clinic – so that patients about to undergo elective surgery have all the services they need in one location.
 
Pre-admission services are currently provided from multiple interim locations around the hospital, resulting in a disjointed and inefficient service for patients during what is a stressful time.
 
These investments build upon Labor’s $60 million commitment to build a dedicated training facility at Cairns Hospital, and our $15 million plan to redevelop the emergency department.
 
Cairns residents will also benefit from improved cancer care under Labor, with new metastatic and lung cancer nurses to be based in the city as part of our $2.3 billion Medicare Cancer Plan.
 
As treasurer, Scott Morrison cut from health and hospitals in every budget he delivered, including $7.2 million cut from the Cairns Hospital. Last month as Prime Minister he locked in those cuts.
 
Labor knows that you don’t improve our hospitals by cutting them. We need real change – because more of the same isn’t good enough.
 
If you want better hospitals not more cuts – vote Labor.
 
If you want a fair go for all Australians – vote Labor.