The numbers speak for themselves – 1442 people were admitted to Warrnambool Base Hospital’s emergency department between July and September. That’s almost 300 more than for the same three-month period in 2015.
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The number admitted to the emergency department for treatment has increased in each of the past five quarters.
Twenty-four hours a day, dedicated staff professionally go about their business in facilities considered tight, tired and inadequate for a regional city hospital.
The case to upgrade the hospital’s emergency department and operating theatres is a slam dunk. Demand is soaring. It has been for years.
That’s why the hospital, under the leadership of chief executive John Krygger and a passionate board spent years developing a masterplan to transform the hospital.
The first stage, a $115 million upgrade was completed in 2012. But more than three years later, stage two, which would see the emergency department expanded, is yet to win government funding.
The Coalition state government vowed to fund the redevelopment had it been returned at the 2014 election. But it lost.
Convincing Premier Daniel Andrews and his Labor government to fund a project expected to cost about $120 million might be difficult on political grounds. Labor has a history of being shunned by South West Coast voters and even when, as Health Minister, Daniel Andrews announced funding for stage one in 2009, it was not substantially rewarded at the ballot box.
Ironically, by the time the project was completed, he was in opposition and the Coalition reaped the rewards.
Hospital and city leaders, including the new council elected this week, have plenty of work to do to convince Mr Andrews’ government the projected demand in a growing city elevates the issue beyond party politics.
Mr Andrews, when he was elected Premier in 2014, vowed to govern for all Victorians. With the $9 billion windfall from the lease of the Port of Melbourne, the government has funds. But does it have the will to show us the money?
Mr Andrews has been in power for 23 months and he is yet to officially visit Warrnambool. Today, we invite Mr Andrews and Health Minister Jill Hennessy to tour the hospital. Their diagnosis would be swift –emergency department and theatre facilities are in critical condition and need attention.
