Concern at ALP’s lack of commitment
But, lobby group spokesman Rob Sinnett said the biggest blow appeared to be in the ALP’s lack of commitment to standing a candidate in the Narracan electorate for the November state election, which he said indicated the ALP had no interest in the seat or the hospital issue.
A letter from the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority to group member Kerry Elliott last week provided no new information and little hope that a commitment would be forthcoming.
VHHSBA chief executive officer Robert Fiske outlined past funding commitments to the West Gippsland Healthcare Group and thanked the group for its letter to Health Minister Jill Hennessy; but again, gave no indication the minister was willing to meet with the group despite ongoing requests over recent months.
Dr Sinnett said last week’s letter was bitterly disappointing. A week earlier, WTF members had met with a senior adviser to the minister which Dr Sinnett said was a positive meeting and gave them some hope the minister would listen to their case.
The letter from Mr Fiske last week confirmed the “service planning, master planning and feasibility studies for Warragul hospital have now been completed.”
Mr Fiske said he hoped the letter provided an overview of the government’s work to improve current and future hospital facilities.
Dr Sinnett said the group never wanted to make the issue political and hoped it would never become an election issue.
The Opposition has committed to building a new hospital on the Drouin East site in its first term of government if elected in November.
“In conjunction with the fact that the ALP has failed to name a candidate for Narracan, this letter is bad news for any plans they have for development on that greenfield site.
“We never wanted to make it political but I suppose it always ends up political in the end. I am bitterly disappointed. We’ve done the business case and we have had tremendous local support but it just doesn’t look like they are supporting us.
“With no indication of an ALP candidate, it looks like they are prepared to let Narracan go – what else can we think,” he said.
Dr Sinnett said the $9.3 million committed by the government to develop a third operating theatre and short stay unit was just further “patchups.”
He said the works were barely a short term fix let alone catering for long term needs.
“The staff are doing a great job in very difficult circumstances. These works are not the answer for the long term future of West Gippsland.
“We have had no information at all about the recommendations of the business case.
“It is ridiculous that if one side wins they will build a new hospital within a couple of years yet in stark contrast the other side will only commit to refurbishments and patch-ups of the existing building,” Dr Sinnett said.
Ms Elliott described the letter from Mr Fiske as “flippant.” She said it was an example of the government not giving the group any respect and more importantly not respecting the community.