BENDIGO Health will push for an urgent multi-million upgrade to its emergency department in next May’s state budget.
As reported in the Bendigo Weekly last week, the hospital is seeking up to $10 million for an immediate re-build of the department.
Chief executive officer John Mulder confirmed the move today, saying the upgrade was needed to tide the department over until the $400 million redevelopment of the total hospital site was finished.
“We are talking with government about a Stage 0,” she said.
“Essentially, it is an interim solution for our emergency department pressures and some infrastructure in terms of mechanical and electrical services to ensure the hospital can cope with present demand and continues to function in the lead up to the re-building of the service.”
Mr Mulder said the hospital was aiming to have the planning finished in time for next year’s budget.
“The intent is to add another floor on top of the building, which would allow all of the administrative components within the building to move upstairs, and allow for an expansion of the cubicles and the working space.
“It would be a very efficient model and it would ensure we weren’t wasting money, in that whatever we built we would then build into the masterplan.
“We are hopeful it will be done well before May.”
Mr Mulder said the hospital was in constant contact with the health department about the plan.
“We talk with the department regularly about our infrastructure needs and they are certainly aware that there is a proposal coming forward for an interim solution that would allow us to get through and continue to function while a new hospital is designed and built,” he said.
Mr Mulder would not be drawn on the final cost of the plan.
“I would rather not comment until consultants have priced it and had a look at it, but it is a significant project that would require a decision by cabinet to support.”
When asked if it was about $10 million, he said: “That is probably a little bit more than what we are looking at, but around that mark.”
Mr Mulder’s comments were part of a visit to the hospital by Health Minister Daniel Andrews
It was Mr Andrews’ third visit to the hospital in as many months to see state-of-the-art cancer treatment machines.
He was non-committal about future funding.
“As a government we committed in the election campaign last year to give to Bendigo Health $2 million to do detailed planning in order to properly work towards the next stage,” he said.
“I have got to be really clear with you about this. It is critically important to get that planning right and that planning work is very important.
“It is also important obviously that government provide support to do that planning work.
“I have met with chair of the board, I have met with CEO. This is the third visit I have made to Bendigo Health in as many months as the Health Minister.
“We committed last year $2 million in planning, the very first budget after we were re-elected last year.
“I am very confident Bendigo Health will do the work they need to do with that planning money to plan out what this health service needs to look like.”
Mr Mulder also revealed the business case and masterplan for the overall hospital redevelopment would not be ready by the May budget.
“We are right in the midst  of a comprehensive planning process, whereby the intent being we will present a business case for consideration by Treasury for the rebuilding of a substantial part of the current Bendigo hospital,” he said.
“If we want the best service... this is such a complex and major development it is a 12 month exercise.
“That won’t be completed for the May state budget.”