By Bonny Burrows
The State Government has shunned Narracan MP Gary Blackwood’s calls to fund a new West Gippsland hospital, instead reiterating plans to upgrade the current premise.
The Liberal politician called for the funding six months after his party committed to delivering a new hospital in the Warragul area to replace the “outdated” current facility if it was elected at the 2018 state election.
He said the community deserved some answers regarding the future of local healthcare.
“Daniel Andrews has had 1000 days to commit to a plan for the West Gippsland Hospital and is yet to decide if it will be expanded at its current site, move to a greenfield site already owned by the West Gippsland Healthcare Group between Drouin and Warragul, or potentially be closed all together,” Mr Blackwood said.
Mr Blackwood said the delay in the Labor government committing to a new West Gippsland Hospital was “unnerving” for the community.
He argued that by not committing to the project, the state Labor government was “again” letting down West Gippsland residents who rely on the hospital and its allied health services.
“With a rapidly growing population it is important West Gippsland has a diverse, well equipped hospital that can cater for everything from day surgery to expecting mothers and everything in between,” Mr Blackwood said.
“The current hospital and its staff do an exceptional job with the facilities they have, but the time has come for the West Gippsland Hospital to have a new home, new facilities and more services.”
When asked by the Gazette if it was looking to fund a new hospital, the State Government would not commit
A spokesperson for Health Minister Jill Hennessy’s office said no one should take the Liberals seriously “when they cut $1 billion from health funding and did nothing for West Gippsland Health when they were in government”.
“The Andrews Labor government is planning for the future redevelopment of the hospital with $1 million to prepare a business case, which has already begun,” the spokesperson said.
“Earlier this year we announced $9.3 million to make improvements to the current Warragul Hospital, in addition to the $72.8 million in funding to the service – $5.4 million more than the year before and $15.6 million more than the last Liberal budget.”
