Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Adjournment
Bass electorate health funding
Bass electorate health funding
Ms CRUGNALE (Bass) (19:17): (6353) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health. The action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the benefits of our 2022–23 budget’s $12 billion pandemic repair plan and how that translates to my electorate of Bass and my regional community specifically. The budget has a $300 million boost for the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund for projects ranging from operating theatre refurbishments to equipment upgrades and $1 billion which includes a raft of investments in and for our nurses, doctors, ambos, allied health professionals, mental health services as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres.
We are serviced by the amazing and professional healthcare teams at Bass Coast Health, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and also Monash Health. As a growing community we are seeing young people and families moving to the area and calling Bass home. We also have an ageing older community as well, and we want all to have access to health care, supports and services close to home. Servicing our community is also Casey Hospital and the Cranbourne and Pakenham community hospitals, and we will expand the existing Phillip Island Health Hub as well. All three of these community hospitals are expected to open in 2024. We also have our subregional Wonthaggi Hospital, which services Bass Coast and South Gippsland locals and visitors alike. Our $150 million investment is set to open later this year, and we will have a new emergency department, three operating theatres, eight additional treatment spaces and a new 32-bed inpatient ward. This means staff will have the capacity to treat 26 000 extra emergency patients each year. We are also home to the incredible Kooweerup Regional Health Service.
Mr Wynne interjected.
Ms CRUGNALE: My action? Hang on. It provides aged care, medical and rehab services as well as district nurses in and around our community. My action is for the minister to provide an update on the benefits of our health budget.