Significantly expanding the size of the Emergency Department at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service and a doubling of ambulance bays will be delivered under a $120 million commitment from the Liberals and Nationals, as Stage One of new hospital rebuild.
The Nationals’ candidate for Gippsland East, Gemma Rendell, announced the commitment alongside Shadow Health Minister, Georgie Crozier, and current Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.
Ms Rendell said a new Emergency Department (ED) and increasing the ambulance bays from three to six were an essential first step in rebuilding the hospital.
“This is a massive commitment for our region and one that will make an enormous difference to patients, their families and the dedicated staff who work at Bairnsdale Hospital,” Ms Rendell said.
“The Nationals committed to it in 2022 and Labor has done nothing since to address the local need. Only The Nationals in government will deliver it,” she said.
“The current ED has simply outgrown the community. At busy times it is cramped and overflowing with ambulances ramped. With the region continuing to grow, that pressure is only going to increase.
“Presently there are just nine treatment spaces. This commitment will almost treble that and give our doctors, nurses and other health professionals the modern facilities and additional capacity they need.
Shadow Health Minister, Georgie Crozier, said the $120 million commitment recognised the importance of Bairnsdale Hospital as a major regional health service.
“Bairnsdale Hospital provides critical health services to communities across a large part of eastern Victoria and it needs facilities capable of meeting both current and future demand,” Ms Crozier said.
“We have listened to the community, worked with Tim, Gemma and the health service. Regional Victorians deserve high-quality health care close to home, and that means investing in the services they rely on.
“On staffing, we have also announced $40 million over four years to attract and retain doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in rural Victoria, offering incentives of up to $10,000 for hard-to-fill positions, including support for relocation and accommodation,” said Ms Crozier.
Mr Bull said upgrading the Bairnsdale Hospital had consistently been identified as the number one infrastructure priority for the region as confirmed by the petition containing over 4,000 signatures he tabled in Parliament.
“That’s why we committed to it in 2022, but on winning government, Labor has ignored our community’s needs.
“Since that time hospital management has worked on a revised redevelopment model which allows the existing hospital to be progressively rebuilt in stages, with the new ED the highest priority.
“This is a part of The Nationals’ Fair Share Guarantee – where at least 25 per cent of all new government infrastructure investment will be directed to regional Victoria, rather than the current 12 per cent under Labor.
