Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Broadmeadows health services

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (13:09): Broadmeadows Hospital is a priority in the $1.5 billion investment to cut patient waiting lists. This $1.5 billion investment will boost hospital surgery across Victoria to record levels, providing the care deferred because of the global pandemic. The good news for the people I represent is Broadmeadows Hospital is one of the top eight priorities and hubs. This strategy will deliver a $475 million investment for more same-day surgeries, increased twilight and after-hours work and theatre improvements to increase efficiency and fast-track patients through the system.

Victoria’s healthcare workforce will be supported by a package worth more than $80 million to upskill more than 1000 nurses and allied health workers, train another 400 nurses and recruit a further 2000 highly skilled healthcare workers from overseas. Importantly this adds value to the centre for health excellence in Broadmeadows, founded with a $60 million investment into Kangan Institute in the last state budget, and in collaboration with Northern Hospital, which has the highest numbers in its emergency department and the highest hospital ramping. So this is vital and urgent, it will go where it is needed most and will help train the next generation of nurses because we know that the pandemic stalks inequality.