Australia commits $83m in funding for Northern Heart Centre at LGH

It will feature a new coronary care unit and two cardiac catheterisation laboratories.

The Australian government has committed $83m (A$120m) towards the establishment of the Northern Heart Centre at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH).

The centre will feature a new coronary care unit with 16 inpatient cardiac ward beds and seven coronary care unit beds remaining co-located in the intensive care unit.

The facility will also include two cardiac catheterisation laboratories for performing common heart treatments, along with dedicated recovery and holding bays for patients.

The centre is projected to take approximately five years to complete and will be constructed in Tasmania, where heart disease is the leading cause of death.

According to the government, North West Tasmania has the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease in the country, with chest pain being one of the most common reasons for admission at LGH, North West Regional Hospital, and the Mersey.

A$1 = $0.69