Hospital drops off region’s priority

A new West Gippsland Hospital has dropped off the priority list of advocacy group One Gippsland ahead of the state election.

Baw Baw Shire mayor Michael Leaney told last week’s council meeting he was disappointed at the decision but declared council would continue to advocate for a new hospital.

“I’m very disappointed that the new West Gippsland Hospital was not included in the priority list for One Gippsland,” Cr Leaney said.

“However, we will continue to advocate for a new West Gippsland Hospital because it is desperately needed for the growing communities of our shire.”

The decision also has angered the West Gippsland Healthcare Group’s board.

Baw Baw Shire Council has provided a commitment to work with WGHG for the proposed future construction of a new $500 million hospital at the already-acquired 23.6-hectare greenfield site on Lardners Track in Drouin East.

State Opposition leader Matthew Guy visited the site in June to pledge his Liberal/Nationals government would build a 200-bed, fit-for-purpose hospital, if elected.

When the Gazette asked if the new West Gippsland Hospital was on its priority project list, One Gippsland didn’t provide a direct answer.

“One Gippsland’s health-related priority projects for the state election are yet to be finalised, with further work planned,” said a statement.

It said an initial discussion was held at an August 19 meeting about Gippsland’s health priorities as part of a broader workplan to identify regional priorities and state election commitments.

“One Gippsland knows that getting health investment right is fundamental to the success of our region,” the statement said.

“As an evidence-based organisation, it was agreed to do further work on this issue to ensure our advocacy is as targeted as possible.”

One Gippsland is the peak regional advocacy body representing Gippsland region. Consisting mayors and CEOs representing the six Gippsland municipalities as well as industry representatives, it aims to be the united voice of Gippsland on regional issues.

Despite his argument that Baw Baw would likely be the biggest community in Gippsland in 10 years, Cr Leaney said he failed to gather enough support from the five other municipalities. He said the reason given was “it’s considered to be too localised or not a whole of Gippsland approach”.

Cr Leaney said he hoped the advocacy body would change its decision but admitted time was running out.

WGHG chair Christine Holland said One Gippsland’s decision was disappointing and represented “a complete lack of understanding of the need”.

Ms Holland said the current hospital had 24 surgical beds and 30 medical beds to cater for a population nearing 60,000. This is resulting in people having to travel into the metropolitan region as they can’t access services required or are waiting too long.

“It’s a serious situation that we have at the moment as far as our building is concerned and our capacity is concerned. It’s nowhere near adequate,” Ms Holland said.

Ms Holland understood the decision was made due to One Gippsland not wanting to prioritise one region over another. However, looking at projects One Gippsland was supporting, she said there was certainly others focused on specific regions.

Apart from Latrobe Regional and maybe Wonthaggi, she said all hospital services in Gippsland required major upgrades and additions.

“Nothing much will happen to the other hospitals, until something happens at West Gippsland,” Ms Holland warned.

One Gippsland’s priority list included a variety of road projects, tourism projects including the Rokeby-Noojee Trail, and education developments, Cr Leaney said.

“I just want to make everyone aware of our commitment to the hospital, whilst some others in the region may not be,” he said.

Cr Danny Goss blasted One Gippsland’s lack of support at last week’s council meeting.

“I’m fed up with One Gippsland councils,” Cr Goss said. “There are five other councils here doing you over in a five-one vote the other day and taking the West Gippsland Hospital out of the Gippsland priority projects.

“I’ll be moving a motion that we leave One Gippsland and they can then call it 83.33 per cent Gippsland, because it won’t be One Gippsland.

“Because if they want to run their own race, let them run their own race,” he said.