$5.7M for four aged care beds in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has opened tenders for Stage 2 of the upgrade to West Coast District Hospital, which includes the addition of four new aged care suites.

The Federal Government has committed $5,741,000 to the project through an Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) grant. 

The development in Queenstown, 260km west of Hobart, has received approval from West Coast Council. Work is scheduled to begin in the middle of the year, and is expected to take 12 months.

As well as the four new bedrooms with ensuites, the project will add a new day area and lounge, and associated supporting spaces to Lyell House, the aged care facility attached to West Coast District Hospital.

Stage 1 of the project, which was jointly funded by the Federal and Tasmanian Governments, opened in December 2024 and provided an additional aged care bed plus improvements to West Coast District Hospital’s Emergency Department. 

This project follows the commencement of work on Stage 2 of a three-stage aged care project at Midlands Multi-Purpose Health Centre, 84km north of Hobart. This project includes the addition of eight aged care beds and is funded by a $3.9 million ACCAP grant.

“This significant upgrade to the West Coast District Hospital will support people in the region to access high quality aged care services in their local community,” said Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Bridget Archer. 

Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, said the Albanese Government is investing in aged care at “record levels”.

“We’re making sure every older Australian can get the world-class care they deserve, wherever they live,” he said. 

At $1.4 million per bed, you’d expect nothing less than world class.