MEMBER for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has criticised the State Government, saying that, “Goulburn Valley residents have every right to be concerned by the Andrews Labor Government’s lack of commitment to deliver the full redevelopment of GV Health.”
“Disturbingly, a media release issued by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the final completion of GV Health’s redevelopment, referring to the works as the ‘final stage’ of the redevelopment,” said Wendy, saying the statement is incorrect and misleading.
“Current work at GV Health is just stage one of the hospital’s redevelopment, and it is insulting for Labor to expect the Goulburn Valley community to celebrate what is currently a job half done.
“For GV Health to deliver the best possible health outcomes for our community, the Andrews Labor Government needs to commit significant funding for the completion of the hospital and a Clinical Health School.
“La Trobe University studies show that those who train in regional areas are more likely to stay there. It is critically important that the Andrews Labor Government provide immediate funding to establish a Clinical Health School on the Graham Street site.”
“This will help address the dire shortage of local nurses, midwives and allied health workers and help build our health workforce now and into the future.
“With the State Budget to be delivered in May, I call on the Andrews Labor Government to include in the Budget a funding commitment that will fully complete the redevelopment of GV Health,” said Ms Lovell in a media statement.
Some components she said that still need to be funded to complete the redevelopment include increased acute and subacute inpatient capacity, additional places for ambulatory care services for clinics, community health, chronic disease management and allied health, additional car parking and a helipad, and more administration areas.
