By Casey Neill
The West Gippsland community is seeing red over delays in funding for a new hospital.
It’s been 11 years since the West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG), which runs Warragul Hospital, was donated a 58 acre site between Drouin and Warragul for the facility.
But neither side of politics has come up with the cash to make it a reality.
So hundreds of people showed up in Warragul’s Civic Park on Saturday 17 March wearing red as a symbol of emergency.
They called on the State Government to commit funding to the project in its May budget.
Retired anaesthetist Dr Rob Sinnett is leading the WTF – Where’s the Funding campaign.
“The sea of red was a great visual impact to send a message to the Victorian Government that the community will not accept any more delays in a funding announcement,” he said.
He’s collected several thousand signatures in two weeks and on Friday 23 March will present them to Narracan Liberal MP Gary Blackwood to submit to Parliament.
“Our current hospital building is 80 years and outdated,” Dr Sinnett said.
“It is struggling to cope with demand from unprecedented population growth across the region.”
He said that extensive project planning was complete.
“Business cases which have involved some 18 months of planning, including masterplan and feasibility studies, have been submitted to the Victorian Government,” he said.
“There is no excuse to delay this any further.
“The Opposition has already announced its intention to build on the greenfield site.
“What people do not want is to see is for the project to become an election issue because that will only further delay the new hospital project.”
He said that if a new hospital on the greenfield site was announced immediately, Warragul Hospital would need to cope for a further five years “which is a frightening proposition”.
“Delays in an announcement will require significant capital investment for more short-term solutions,” he said.
Dr Sinnett said the State Government was already spending $9.6 million on stop-gap projects in an eight-bed short-stay unit in the emergency department and a third operating theatre.
He said the Baw Baw region had some of the worst cancer survival rates in Victoria, but WGHG offered oncology services just one day per week due to space restrictions.
In maternity, WGHG has capped the number of births and restricted patient intake by postcode.
Emergency department presentations are up a further nine per cent this year.
He said surgical waiting lists were increasing and car parking was inadequate.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the State Government was planning for Warragul Hospital’s future, “working closely with the health service to complete a business case so the government has all the information it needs to deliver the best possible outcomes for the community”.
“In recognition of the growth in the region, we have already announced a $9.3 million funding boost to revamp Warragul Hospital, as well as $1 million for planning of the hospital’s redevelopment,” she said.
Email wheresthefunding@outlook.com, call 0417 518 901 or visit www.facebook.com/wheresthefunding4WGH to get involved.
