Hospital in back pay win from Canberra

THE Townsville Hospital is expected to receive millions of dollars in back pay from the Commonwealth.

The Federal Government has agreed to pay Queensland hospitals $ 309.2 million for services they delivered in the 2014- 15 and 2015- 16 financial years.

Health Minister Steven Miles said he had asked the department to undertake “urgent analysis” of the figures to ensure each hospital received its correct share.

“This is a big win for the Townsville Hospital where the Turnbull Government owes $ 66 million for operations performed over the last four years,” he said.

“The Turnbull Government’s agreement to finally pay for procedures performed in 2014- 15 and 2015- 16 will come as a great relief to them – that equates to $ 21 million.”

Mr Miles said the funds owed for 2016- 17 “remained outstanding”.

“We’re yet to hear whether the Commonwealth will pay what they owe under the health agreement for 2016- 17 and for this financial year,” he said. “If Malcolm Turnbull was serious about negotiating a new hospital agreement he would ensure those payments were made.”

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the back pay more accurately reflected actual hospital services delivered.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to increasing funding to Australia’s public hospitals,” he said.