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Thursday, May 06, 2010
Members Statements
I rise to express concern and disappointment for
the thousands of people waiting for treatment at Box Hill Hospital and call on
the government to take immediate action to remedy the situation. From July to
December 2009 the latest Your Hospitals report shows that Box Hill Hospital
failed the majority of its government performance targets. The report shows that
as of December 2009 significant numbers are not being seen in emergency
departments (ED) in time or being treated or admitted from the ED in appropriate
time frames.
It is reported that 2905 patients were on the elective surgery waiting list, and
many semi-urgent and non-urgent patients waiting for elective surgery did not
have their operations in a timely manner. These figures do not report those
languishing on outpatient waiting lists.
In contrast to the government, the coalition is committed to greater
transparency and will release a much more complete set of data including an
emergency department website accessible in real time. To top it off, by June
2014, which is over four years from now, Box Hill Hospital will have received
less than 75 per cent of the $408 million funding, for what was referred to in
the budget as the new emergency and surgery block -- nowhere near the complete
rebuild of the dilapidated old hospital that was promised or the more than $800
million it would have cost to do it properly.
Leading our health sector requires more than a quick picture opportunity in
these ministers' seemingly never-ending quests for self-promotion. It is about
ensuring that patients get the treatment they need and when they need it. That
is something this Brumby government has failed miserably to do.
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