Where’s the funding?
A community driven campaign is sending a clear message to the state government that they are “Sick of Waiting” for a new West Gippsland Hospital.
The community action group is urging residents to lobby the state government for a funding commitment in May’s budget to build a new hospital on a greenfield site at Drouin East.
The campaign is calling for “people power” to make a new hospital a reality in the state budget rather than it becoming an election issue.
Leading the campaign, retired anaesthetist Rob Sinnett said $300 million was a lot of money but “enough is enough.”
“Yes, it’s a lot of money but not doing it would be a disgrace. This must happen.
“We don’t want any more money spent on the existing site except what is needed to keep it going.
“Both sides of politics keep talking about the need here and the Opposition has promised it but after more than 10 years of talk, we still haven’t seen the money.
“I want this to be apolitical as possible so we can get people behind it and get the quality of care we need,” he said.
The new community action group “Sick of Waiting Action Team” (SWAT) are asking one question: “Where’s the funding for our new hospital.”
Before retiring four years ago, Dr Sinnett worked at the hospital for 37 years. He is passionate about driving the campaign for a new hospital.
“I know the internal workings of that hospital and we‘ve always punched above our weight.
“I am worried if we don’t do something soon it will become more chaotic.
Dr Sinnett said hospital staff did an amazing job in an outdated hospital that was straining from demand. He said it would take 10 years to build a new hospital on the existing site and it would be chaos to continue working in those conditions.
He said a new hospital on the 26 hectare hospital owned site on the corner of Lardners Trk and Princes Way would take five years.
“The current hospital is 80 years old and it’s falling apart.
“They’ve already capped the number of midwifery cases and that’s not good in a growth area,” he said.
Dr Sinnett has called on everyone in the community – individuals, groups, businesses, clubs and more to sign and circulate a petition to be presented to the state government.
He said they also planned a rally for the community to show their force.
“It is critical that this community gets the funding commitment for a new hospital before we go to a state election later this year. Otherwise it will become an election issue and just add more delay,” he said.
WGHG chief executive officer Dan Weeks said the planning work and business case were complete and with the state government for a decision.
He said the board had assisted the government through its formal processes and like everyone would love to see a new hospital announced in the state budget.
“The staff and board are absolutely delighted that the community is supporting a new hospital,” he said.
Petitions can be obtained from the SWAT group or contact Dr Sinnett at wheresthefunding@outlook.com
The group also has a Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/wheresthefunding4WGH/?ref=bookmarks
Member for Eastern Province Harriet Shing responds
A new West Gippsland Hospital on a greenfield site is “not a matter of if, but when” for Member for Eastern Victorian Region Harriet Shing.
But, the upper house Labor member said there was a process to go through and that process was in the hands of the state government.
“I haven’t taken my foot off the pedal in supporting this issue.
“But we have to do it thoroughly and methodically and that’s why progressing the business case on both options is important,” she said.
The state government provided $1 million to undertake a feasibility study and business case on two options – redevelopment of the hospital on its existing site or a new hospital on a greenfield site.
“It is important to do the due diligence on both the sites and look at options for accommodating growth in the area.
“There is a population boom so we have to plan things properly.
Ms Shing said the West Gippsland Healthcare Group had assisted in the process to prepare business cases for both sites and that advice would be provided to government.
Results of the feasibility study and business cases have not been released publicly.
“It is not the ordinary case to release those findings,” she said.
Ms Shing said it was important for the new community action group to lobby federal Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent for the money “missing from Victoria’s health budget.”
“We are still waiting for the federal government to meet its share of our health funding,” she said.
Ms Shing said $2 billion from the Snowy Hydro share sales announced last week had to be spent on infrastructure but details had not yet been determined.
“Local groups need to know it will take cooperation with the federal government to make a new hospital happen,” she said.