The Albanese Labor Government has pledged hundreds of millions to expand major public hospitals in Western Australia and South Australia in a bid to improve healthcare access and increase the number of highly skilled health workers, including nurses and midwives, to meet growing demand.

The federal government today announced it will invest $150 million, matched by Flinders University, to fund the construction of the Flinders HealthCARE Centre, a “state-of-the-art” health service featuring three floors of clinical space capable of treating 100 patients simultaneously, if re-elected.

“This will open up 10,000 health appointments and see up to 1,300 health professionals graduate each year,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today.

The centre’s research and training facilities will enable Flinders University to produce an extra 1,300 graduates each year, including more than 490 nurses and 50 midwives.

This latest commitment followed a similar $200 million pledge to expand St John of God Midland Public Hospital in Western Australia, to deliver more hospital beds, operating theatres, ICU and neonatal care beds, and a redesign of the obstetrics and neonatal unit.

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