IN a quick response to a request by Health Minister Daniel
Andrews, Premier John Brumby yesterday visited the Bendigo hospital to see for himself the shortcomings of the facility.
Mr Andrews visited the hospital on December 14 and suggested Mr Brumby learn firsthand of the dated and cramped conditions faced by staff and patients.
“I was really keen just to have a look at the facilities and in particular the outpatients and emergency area to get a first hand assessment of what it’s like and whether improvements are needed or warranted in the
future,” Mr Brumby said.
Mr Brumby spent some time in the emergency and outpatient departments and also visited the oncology and dialysis units.
“Essentially here you’ve got some space and demand issues,” he said.
“We’ve seen record high population growth in Bendigo, we’ve seen a strong economy so more people in jobs, more people using hospital outpatients.
“And there have been some other changes as well in terms of the availability of GPs, so instead of 90 patients a day on average coming in here you’re getting 120 or 130 and sometimes at a weekend you’re
getting 150 and 160 through the ED.
“So the facilities that are there often struggle to cope and it makes it very, very difficult for the staff who work under difficult conditions to do that.”
Mr Brumby said there were many competing health projects for the May budget, but the government was “very conscious of the demands on Bendigo”.
It’s hoped the government will commit funding in the stage budget to a redevelopment of the Bendigo hospital.
“They’re the sorts of discussions we had ... what is it that the government could do that would represent good value for money that would ease some of that pressure, take some of that pressure off the nurses and doctors, the other professionals, make sure the patients are seen even quicker and do that in a way that represents good value money for the town,” he said.
While in Bendigo, Mr Brumby also announced $454,000 in funding for key medical equipment at the hospital.
The funds will be used to buy 10 new bariatric beds, a mobile image intensifier, a new steriliser and 18 new syringe pumps.