By NATALIE GALLENTI
BACCHUS Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital recently celebrated a momentous milestone for 2013.
Little Harper Jordan Chapman was born last Tuesday, 25 June, at 11.31am to proud parents Siobhan and Gavin Chapman of Melton, and marked the 1000th birth at the hospital for this financial year.
Djerriwarrh Health Services CEO Bruce Marshall said this was a record for the health service and the first time in its 57-year history that 1000 births have been achieved in a 12-month period.
Mr Marshall said the hospital was continuing to experience a significant number of births, with a 12 per cent increase in births during the past year.
He said that Djerriwarrh Health Service expected birth numbers to continue to rise in future years, due to the number of young families moving into both the City of Melton and the Shire of Moorabool.
“The Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital Maternity Unit is able to accommodate this increasing rise in the number of births and has also increased the availability of antenatal clinics at Maternity@Melton, which is provided through out Melton Health facility,” Mr Marshall said.
“It includes evening and weekend sessions to better cater for families.”
But while the milestone occasion was reason to celebrate, Melton MP Don Nardella said it also showed that the municipality was in dire need of improved and increased infrastructure.
Addressing Parliament last week, Mr Nardella said the fact that 42 babies are born every week in the City of Melton – the size of two prep classes – was proof that the Government needed to stop neglecting Melbourne’s West and offer viable prospects for residents.
Shadow Minister for the Suburbs Lily D’Ambrosio said according to recent data released by 10 outer suburban municipal councils, when total population and share of population growth are taken into account, outer suburban areas like Melton are receiving a disproportionately small share of funding.
“While these municipalities account for 25 per cent of the state’s total population and 50 per cent of the state’s population growth, communities in the Interface Council areas will only receive 18 per cent of new funding for services in the 2013-14 Victorian Budget,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
