Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Mildura Base Public Hospital

Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:38): (1936) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Health, and it concerns the current healthcare crisis occurring at the Mildura Base Public Hospital. The action I seek from the minister is for him to provide an immediate commitment to fund the construction of a new Mildura Base Public Hospital to adequately cater for the healthcare requirements of the Sunraysia community.

Despite the constant denials from members of the Andrews Labor government our state is currently in the midst of the worst healthcare crisis in living memory—ambulance shortages and ramping, emergency 000 calls that go unanswered, elective surgery waiting list blowouts, outdated and inadequate infrastructure at hospitals that are unable to cope with patient demand, and the list goes on and on. True to form the Andrews Labor government either blame the pandemic or the opposition for the current state of Victoria’s healthcare system, despite the fact that Daniel Andrews has presided over the system as either Premier or health minister for 11 of the past 15 years.

What happened at Mildura Base Public Hospital last Wednesday night was a stark reminder to all of us of the dramatic deterioration of Victoria’s hospital system under the watch of this Premier and this government. Last Wednesday a code yellow was called at the Mildura base hospital, an internal emergency because both the hospital and the emergency department had reached full capacity and wait times for patients exceeded 12 hours. During the code yellow a recovery bay in the theatre was turned into a ward to increase capacity. In a newspaper article the CEO pointed out the current crisis in Mildura is not due to staff shortages, influenza or COVID; it is about traditional injuries, people needing surgery and chronic diseases. Because of its remote location the hospital cannot go on bypass to another hospital, and amongst other things its current emergency department is not adequate to properly cater for its patient catchment, meaning construction of a new Mildura Base Public Hospital is of critical importance.

I was proud to stand with the Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy, my colleague Ms Crozier and our candidate Paul Matheson in Mildura on 8 May to announce that an elected Guy Liberal government will provide $750 million to build a new hospital in Mildura. In contrast, Mr Foley’s visit less than a month later came with no explanation as to why the new hospital’s master plan, which was due to be completed in April, has been delayed until at least the middle of the year. I call on the minister to provide certainty that a new Mildura Base Public Hospital will be funded by his government to ensure the Sunraysia community receive the world-class health service they deserve.