Thursday, 24 March 2022

Constituency questions

Eastern Victoria Region

Ms BURNETT-WAKE (Eastern Victoria) (12:36): (1710) My constituency question is for the Minister for Health and concerns the Angliss Hospital maternity ward closure. I was recently contacted by a constituent who lives in the Dandenong Ranges. She is expecting a child in August 2022. On 3 March Eastern Health ceased all maternity services at the Angliss Hospital in Upper Ferntree Gully due to a broken lift. Expectant mums are now required to get to Box Hill for appointments and to give birth. Up until this announcement this constituent was booked in at the Angliss. This would have been a 10- to 15-minute drive. She is concerned that if she goes into labour during peak traffic times it could take her well over an hour and a half to get to Box Hill. My question on behalf of this constituent is: will maternity services be resumed at the Angliss Hospital by August 2022?