ONE of Bendigo’s most influential medical groups has thrown its support behind a redevelopment of the Bendigo hospital. At one of the highest attended Australian Medical Association sub-division meetings in the city in the past two years, doctors from all specialties stressed the need for new infrastructure at Bendigo Health. “Bendigo doctors, that’s GPs and hospital doctors, regard it as essential,” the AMA’s Victorian vice-president and Bendigo doctor, Stephen Parnis said. “It is getting harder and harder to do what we do.” Bendigo Health chief executive John Mulder addressed the meeting, impressing those attending with his grasp of the issue and detailed knowledge of plans for the hospital site. “We were impressed by his grasp of the detail and the extent to which he wanted to involve the Bendigo community,” Dr Parnis said. “There is a need for infrastructure and support to make things easier for people to access services. “He was honest and upfront about what was needed and achievable ... he acknowledged the problems that exist, the need for Bendigo Health to undergo substantial redevelopment over time. “The detail is there, the plan is there. “What is required is state government support to achieve that.” Dr Parnis said questions were raised during the meeting about the level of planning being carried out should the hospital receive welcome news in the May budget. “We know we can’t control the size of the budget ... we know that it requires pressure, pleading, begging and grovelling,” he said. “We are asking okay, what’s being done at health executive level to get that money and those resources and if and when that’s achieved what do you plan to do with that? “We support the innovations they have in terms of programs to keep people out of hospital, but we’ve got to increase the number of beds “Bendigo is in serious need of infrastructure and support. “These issues are urgent.” Dr Parnis said apart from money for bricks and mortar, the emphasis at this week’s meeting was also on recruiting doctors to the region and the need for more senior staff and an emphasis on teaching facilities. He said the burden for those already working in the health system was often overwhelming at present. “We need to sell the Bendigo region better, we need to be a bit more clever about how to attract people,” he said. “We acknowledge the fact that the next five years are when there is the greatest need and shortest number of doctors on deck. “It is going to be the hardest time any of us will have ever known.”
