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Health Minister Jill Hennessy's visit to Warrnambool Base Hospital in December was a crucial early step towards getting funding for its stage two upgrade, local MPs say.
Ms Hennessy toured the emergency department, the operating theatres and chatted to staff about the challenges they face.
The minister said she wasn’t able to make a commitment, but the “direct personal experience” had given her a greater understanding of the hospital’s needs.
Western Victoria MP James Purcell, who represents Vote 1 Jobs, said at the very least, he hoped funding for the preliminary planning work that needed to be done would be funded in next year’s state budget.
“It was great to have Jill Hennessy down to open the cancer centre and to tour the emergency section,” he said.
“It’s sort of the first stage of convincing a government of the need.”
The stage two project will take four years, according to South West Healthcare.
The first two years’ work, which would cost approximately $7.5 million, would involve a masterplan review, feasibility study, development of designs and a tender process.
Mr Purcell said it was obvious the facilities were dated.
“With the numbers going through, you need to have the upgrade,” he said.
South West Coast Liberal MP Roma Britnell, who worked as a nurse for decades, said she hoped the minister’s visit spurred action.
“It’s absolutely obvious, even to those who haven’t worked in accident and emergency, that there’s no way you can cope in a major event situation,” Mrs Britnell said.
“The staff doing what they’re doing is extraordinary in my opinion, in a very cramped environment that’s not ideal for getting on with doing the job.”
The opposition has already committed to funding the upgrade.