On Tuesday, Mildura Base Hospital will return to public hands after being privately managed by Ramsay Health Care for the past two decades.
It’s an historic occasion for this community, which had fought for a good 10 years for the Victorian Government to take back control.
It also marks the biggest win of independent Member for Mildura Ali Cupper’s political career.
Ms Cupper successfully campaigned in the state election on the hospital issue and then made it her focus during an emotional maiden speech in State Parliament.
She drew a line in the sand with the Victorian Government, so had Premier Daniel Andrews decided last year to renew the Ramsay contract, it would have been difficult to see how she could have politically recovered.
But he didn’t.
“This result is a testament to the advocacy of Ali Cupper and every single local campaigner who have been tireless in their fight to get their hospital back,” Mr Andrews said at the time.
“We look forward to working closely with Ali Cupper and the community over the next year as we do the hard work to bring Mildura Base back into back in public hands.”
And there was this from Health Minister Jenny Mikakos: “We’ve heard the passionate call for change in Mildura loud and clear – and we’re getting it done,” she said.
“This is a big win for Mildura, local patients and hospital staff.”
A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes since that momentous decision to prepare for Tuesday’s transition.
A new board has been formed, a new chief executiv appointed, leading doctors signed up, along with an enormous amount of planning.
But no-one is under the illusion that this transition will be easy.
Changing hospital management is not a simple matter of handing over a set of keys.
One of the major hurdles will be switching computer systems from a private company to a government system and all that that entails. New email addresses for every employee is only scratching the surface of the challenges ahead in learning and installing a new system. The training can only be learned in a live hospital environment, once the keys are handed over on Tuesday.
Humans, by nature, fear change, so consider the anxiety that must be facing Mildura hospital staff heading into this week.
That is why we, the community, need to show patience and understanding in the coming months.
The teething problems are going to be there, it’s inevitable, so staff and management will need their community to work with them, not against them, during this changeover.
COVID-19 has made 2020 a horrible year for everyone, but the return of Mildura’s hospital to public hands is something for this community to feel positive about.
We need to embrace the notion that this is “our” hospital and feel a sense of pride in that.
Our health service is a key pillar of this community, employing so many great local people. These people have cared for us for decades and will continue to care for us well into the future.
So, as they face great challenges in the coming months, it’s time for us to show them some care in return.
It all begins on Tuesday. We wish all of them well.
Let’s toast good health.
