VICTORIA’S Planning Minister has not yet set a timeline for the Mildura Base Public Hospital master plan.
In this year’s State Budget the government committed $2 million for a master plan to determine the future of a hospital described last week as “untenable”.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper told State Parliament the Mildura community was eagerly awaiting the next step in the process.
Ms Cupper said that not only was the master plan a matter of practical necessity, but vital in restoring confidence in a health system that had been lost after 20 years of failed privatisation.
“A new state-of-the-art regional hospital will put Mildura on a level playing field, finally, with other regional centres,” Ms Cupper said.
“We do not want a hospital where patients are scared to be treated.
“It is a vulnerable setting where we take our most precious cargo.”
Ms Cupper said more than 1000 staff at the hospital were dealing with patients “in a facility that is untenable”.
“These areas are simply inadequate for the purpose they serve,” she said.
“There is not enough ambulance space for efficient dispatch of patients and not enough beds in accident and emergency to ensure patients are seen to in a timely way,” she said.
“None of this is the fault of our doctors and nurses — it is a product of the conditions they work in.
“Each passing year demand is being put on the hospital to cater for our growing community and everyone is feeling the strain.”
Ms Cupper said it was a matter of human rights and basic dignity to have facilities that accommodated health care.
She said there was excitement surrounding the master plan, but that the community would appreciate knowledge on how to maximise the chance to secure the capital funding needed for the vital project.
However, Planning Minister Richard Wynne last week took on notice a question from Ms Cupper, recognising only what has been previously been on the record.
“Of course we should not forget it was brought back into public ownership by this government, and we recognise that there are significant challenges there, particularly around the infrastructure,” Mr Wynne said.
“The master planning, as the member knows, is the first stage in that process.”
— with Talia Woodroffe
