By Mitchell Clarke
Berwick’s St John of God Hospital has struck a deal with the State Government to ensure Cardinia and Casey residents are cared for during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The hospital is among several other private facilities to work alongside Victoria’s public hospitals in a bid to relieve pressure and ensure the Victorian health system can operate at full capacity.
Other private hospitals included in the agreement were St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Epworth HealthCare, Cabrini Health, Ramsay Health Care, Healthscope and Healthe Care Australia.
The deal follows a guarantee from the Commonwealth to ensure the viability of all private hospitals following the suspension of all non-urgent surgeries.
It will mean private hospital staff, including porters, cleaners, cooks and security guards can keep their jobs and remain in the healthcare system for the pandemic’s duration.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said “significant work” was underway to prepare the hospitals for the “prolonged increase in demand”.
“This agreement we have secured will ensure our health system is working at full capacity during the pandemic,” Ms Mikakos said.
“Our whole healthcare sector has a vital role to play in fighting coronavirus – and this deal ensures we have one system of care.
“We look forward to working in partnership with our private and public healthcare providers to ensure Victoria is ready to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Meanwhile, the state’s health system will also receive a massive $1.3 billion injection to “quickly” establish an extra 4,000 ICU beds.
At present, there are just 450 fully equipped and staffed ICU beds across the state’s public and private health services.
“We are making the investments we need to support our hospitals and our healthcare workers to save lives and help us get to the other side of this crisis,” Ms Mikakos added.
