By Charlene Gatt and NATALIE GALLENTI
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.
Meanwhile, emergency doctors at Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals may go on strike placing extra pressure on already bursting emergency rooms.
Western Health said last week that doctors would not strike and the parties had reached an agreement over physician wages, but Secretary of the Victorian Emergency Physicians Association Allan Whitehead told Star the matter was yet to be resolved.
Dr Whitehead said physicians may launch industrial action depending on the outcome of a ballot to be held in November.
Physicians had been battling with Western Health to reach an agreement for the past three years and were now “frustrated” and “tired”, Dr Whitehead said.
“Emergency physicians have been backed into a corner by Western Health Service’s refusal to recognise a new enterprise agreement bringing their working conditions into line with colleagues across Melbourne,” Dr Whitehead said.
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.
“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.
