By Charlene Gatt
NEARLY 90 beds were closed at Footscray’s Western Hospital and the Williamstown Hospital over the Christmas and New Year period.
A secret nurse bed toll between 23 December 2011 and 25 January 2012 found 59 beds were closed for all or part of that period at the Western Hospital, while 30 were closed at Williamstown.
The beds included intensive care beds, paediatric beds, surgical beds, coronary care beds and sub-acute beds.
A total 1516 public hospital beds were closed across the state, more than double the number of beds nurses closed during the peak of their industrial action between 12 and 26 November 2011.
The Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) will publish a Baillieu Government bed closure toll regularly to ensure transparency and accountability in the lead up to any announcements the Government makes to fulfil its election promise to open 800 new hospital beds.
“The Baillieu Government must revise its election promise – it doesn’t just have to open 800 beds, it now has to open 2316 beds,” Lisa Fitzpatrick from the ANF said.
“ANF’s bed audit is a biopsy of the health system and the diagnosis is grim.
“Our hospitals are very sick and failing the people of Victoria. If the Baillieu Government keeps underfunding hospitals the only thing left to do will be an autopsy of the health system.”
Western Health CEO Kathryn Cook responded: “As with all major hospitals, we plan a reduction in elective surgery over the December-January period when we know patients least like to have surgery and many of our staff will be on leave.
“Our staff work extremely hard all year and often the only opportunity they have to take an extended period of leave is over the December-January period.
“It is also a time when we undertake essential maintenance across our sites.”
Health Minister David Davis’s office did not respond to Star’s request for comment by deadline.
