By CHARLENE MACAULAY
THE Federal Government has reimbursed Western Health $6.549 million in state funding cuts.
The government last week announced it had given Western Health, which oversees the Western, Sunshine and Williamstown hospitals, back the funding it lost in January.
Western Health announced plans to close operating theatres at Western and Sunshine hospitals for four weeks between March and May to combat the funding cut.
Western Health had also announced a further reduction in surgical activity resulting in the cancellation of an additional 550 category two and three elective surgeries across various specialties and the closure of eight surgical inpatient beds at Western Hospital.
The Federal Government announced it would reverse $107 million in funding to Victoria’s hospitals a month later, and only now have reimbursed Western Health’s three hospitals.
Western Health CEO Alex Cockram welcomed the reinstatement funding last week.
“This enables Western Health to focus on providing patient care and allows us to respond to members of our community with the greatest need,” Associate Professor Cockram said.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten added: “As a result of this funding injection, Western Health should be able to ramp up services and ensure patients in Melbourne’s Western Suburbs get the best possible health care.
“The money has now been delivered directly to the service provider, giving some welcome certainty to patients and staff.”
A report released by the National Health Performance Authority last year revealed the Western Hospital emergency department in Footscray was one of the worst-performing in Australia, with only 41 per cent of patients treated within four hours.
