Thursday, 30 May 2024

Northern Victoria Region

Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:44): (900) My question is for the Minister for Health. When will construction on the City of Whittlesea community hospital be completed, and when will it start accepting patients? In the lead-up to the 2022 Victoria election the Liberal Party committed to investing $300 million to build a new Plenty Valley hospital if they were elected. The Labor government instead decided to build a much smaller health centre in Mernda with no overnight beds, calling it the City of Whittlesea community hospital. In June 2022 the minister announced the appointment of contractors for the Whittlesea community hospital, saying it would be completed in 2024, but the last Victorian budget says that the City of Whittlesea, Pakenham and Point Cook community hospitals will be completed in 2025 and 2026. Due to its own financial mismanagement, this Labor government has delayed the completion date for the City of Whittlesea community hospital by up to two years. Concerned residents, as well as health workers, in the area need clarity on when the hospital will be open for business, and the minister must confirm its new completion date.