Liberals Petition Government to Fund Local HospitalTuesday, November 11, 2008 The Members for Doncaster and Box Hill are circulating a petition calling on the Brumby Government to provide much needed funding for the full upgrade of Box Hill Hospital. The petition calls on the Labor Government to fulfil their commitment to redevelop the old and inadequate facilities at the hospital. “The full redevelopment will cost close to $1 billion. However, if the commitment to the full redevelopment does not occur shortly, $750 million will be urgently needed in order to just bring existing facilities up to standard and keep the hospital open,” Ms Wooldridge said. “The last major upgrade to the 52 year old hospital was ten years ago. The facilities at Box Hill Hospital are outdated and unsuitable and despite the best efforts of doctors and staff, the waiting times continue to grow. “Rather than fund the full redevelopment, the Brumby Government has provided token gestures and band-aid solutions. “The project is vital for thousands of Manningham residents, including many ageing residents with increasing needs, as well as young families,” Ms Wooldridge said. Box Hill Hospital is also facing broader challenges. Not only is it run down but it is also amongst the worst performer of any major hospital in Victoria for • ambulance bypass • emergency patients waiting more than 8 hours for admission • non-admitted emergency patients waiting more than 4 hours for treatment. More than one third (39%) of patients who need a bed wait in the emergency department for more than 8 hours before being admitted. Of those patients who don't need to be admitted, a further half (49%) wait for more than four hours before being treated. Almost two thirds (61%) of semi-urgent surgery patients wait longer than the medically-recommended 90 days, and one third (33%) of non-urgent patients wait for more than a year. The waiting list for urgent and semi-urgent surgery at the hospital has more than trebled since the current Government was elected. “This hospital plays an important role in the health of all Victorians, but it is in a dire need of an upgrade,” Ms Wooldridge said. “Labor must honour its election commitment and fund the full redevelopment of the hospital without any further delay.”
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