By ALESHA CAPONE
MORE than 120 inpatient beds at Sunshine Hospital’s new $90 million Acute Services Building are not being used because there are no doctors and nurses to attend them, according to an Opposition MP.
The Labor spokesperson for Health, Gavin Jennings, has told parliament the beds have remained empty since the Acute Services Building was opened in February, due to a lack of funds.
Mr Jennings has called on the State Government to remedy the situation.
“The fundamental fact that cannot be denied is that the outgoing Labor government committed $90 million to redevelop 128 beds,” Mr Jennings said.
“These facilities have been provided to Western Health at the Sunshine Hospital but cannot now be used for health services because there is no recurrent funding for doctors and nurses to make sure those beds are used.
“These have recently been opened but are currently not in use because there have been no resources allocated by the Liberal-Nationals government to make them operational.”
Health Minister David Davis responded to Mr Jennings in parliament.
“It is clear that the funding by the state government to Western Health and to Mercy Health has increased, and it is clear that the specific challenges at Sunshine are being addressed,” he said.
“It might not be as fast as many would wish, but it is very clear that additional support is being put into Sunshine Hospital.”
Western Health’s Chief Executive, Asoociate Professor Alex Cockram said the Sunshine Hospital’s Acute Services Building was presently operating at 80 per cent occupancy.
“Western Health welcomes the expansion of facilities at Sunshine Hospital, through the development of the new Acute Services Building which became operational eight weeks ago,” she said.
“There has been a reconfiguration of existing bed numbers across Western Health, not an increase in numbers, save for the Special Care Nursery which is now funded for 21 cots up from 16 in the old facility.
“Western Health continues to work closely with the State Government with a view to increasing funding in our high growth areas, which include maternity and emergency department services, and to enable patients in Melbourne’s West to be treated locally in areas such as cardiac services.”
