By Charlene Gatt
STATE Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has slammed the State Government for neglecting hospitals in the West.
Visiting Williamstown Hospital last week with Williamstown MP Wade Noonan, Mr Andrews said Premier Ted Baillieu and Health Minister David Davis had turned their backs on health services across the West.
Mr Andrews said the Premier had promised an extra 100 beds for Victorian hospitals this year, but so far had not delivered a single one.
“It’s appalling that after a year in office, there’s no beds in Williamstown, there’s no beds in Sunshine and there’s no beds at the Western,” Mr Andrews said.
“Part of the problem is that we don’t have a health plan from the State Government. They haven’t told us how many patients they expect to treat, or how many elective surgeries they plan to provide.
“The only plan the State Coalition has to improve services… is to re-announce Labor’s project to provide $3 million for an extra operating theatre.
“A growing population in Melbourne’s West means more investment is needed and it’s time the Coalition delivered.”
Mr Andrews, who was born at Williamstown Hospital, said the neglect was putting strain on the doctors and nurses working across the West.
He said the Labor Party would have a fully integrated health plan come the 2014 election.
Mr Noonan supported his comments, adding that the State Government was placing a low priority on anything in the West.
“We don’t want health to be a postcode issue where the State Government can get some political bang for its buck,” Mr Noonan said.
“I don’t think people in the community know what the future of the Williamstown Hospital looks like.”
