THE state government this afternoon announced a $9.5 million upgrade of Bendigo hospital’s emergency department.
Premier John Brumby made the announcement during a visit to Bendigo today.
He said the money would pay for adding another storey to the department to ease the pressure of waiting times and allow for future population growth.
“A decade of rebuilding has delivered major improvements to health services in our regional cities and towns, but more needs to be done if we are to improve health outcomes in regional Victoria,” he said.
“I want working families in rural and regional Victoria to have the same opportunities as their counterparts in Melbourne.
“And the health and wellbeing of rural and regional Victorians lies at the heart of this goal.”
The redevelopment of the ED will create more beads and allow for the administration of the department to be separated from patients’s needs.
The redevelopment was seen as the urgent part of a $400 million revamp of the entire hospital, something Mr Brumby said would be considered in next year’s state budget, once the business case was finalised.
“This funding is a big relief,” Bendigo Health chairman Marika McMahon said.
However, Mr Brumby acknowledged the government’s $12 million election promise to re-build the Stella Anderson Nursing Home would not be in next week’s budget.
To see the full details and full background of this story, check out next week’ Bendigo Weekly.
Comments
Comment #1
(Posted by Big John)
Is it going to make a difference. I don't think so
