Government fails to address growth issues
Two years after a state government report identified the West Gippsland Hospital activity levels would more than double in the next five to 10 years, little has been done to address growth problems, according to community members calling for a new hospital.
A Health Department strategic services plan in July 2016 identified the growing demands on the West Gippsland Healthcare Group, across all areas of the hospital including emergency presentations, clinical, aged care and obstetrics.
The report identified the increased demands of a growing population in Baw Baw and forecast acute and sub-acute inpatients would more than double from 11,380 in 2014/15 to 23,265 in the next five to 10 years.
The report said demand for acute services would grow 61 per cent, or 3.6 per cent annually, by 2031/32.
Where’s the Funding lobby group member Kerry Elliott said two years later, the hospital was bursting at the seams and the forecast demand outlined in that report was a reality.
She said a new hospital was the only answer - “we can’t just keep making do all the time.”
Members of the Where’s The Funding community advocacy group will meet with an advisor to Health Minister Jill Hennessy in Parliament House today. The meeting has been facilitated by Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing.
Rob Sinnett and Mrs Elliott are hopeful they may receive some direction from the minister’s staff about the government’s position on the matter.
Dr Sinnett, a former anaesthetist at the hospital, said when the state government announced $9 million for further upgrades to theatre and short stay accommodation units at WGH last year he was angry.
“I worked in that operating theatre for 37 years. To put another theatre there at that cost got me really wound up.
“I got angry there was $9 million being spent on a hospital past its use by date.
Mrs Elliott said figures and growing demand for services were evidence of the need for a new hospital.
She said the emergency department had grown five per cent to July this year, with a total of 23,000 presentations.
From a patient and family perspective, she said the emergency department presented many difficulties, citing one toilet, a cramped waiting room area where there was a risk of cross infection and lengthy waits for patients.
“The proposed short stay unit will hopefully provide a more comfortable bed for those waiting to move further into the hospital.
“However, the short stay unit will be ideal for patients who are in for less than 24 hours. It will not alleviate the stress and concern for those assessed as requiring hospital admittance,” she said.
A limited one day a week oncology service also was failing to meet needs, Mrs Elliott said.
She said she also was concerned that mothers would be turned away from the hospital once birthing numbers reach the 1000 cap. She said there were 912 deliveries at the hospital for 2017/18.
When the strategic service plan was undertaken in 2016, there were 118 treatment spaces within the hospital. The plan identified the need for 212 treatment spaces.
But, Mrs Elliott said the current, 80-year-old building could not accommodate that increase, let along any future increases.