By Deanne Jeffers
FUTURE funding for stage two of the Goulburn Valley Health redevelopment is unlikely after the Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas’ visit to tour the “final stage” of the project.
The $230M redevelopment at GV Health was touted as stage one, however, the opening line of Ms Thomas’ media release put to rest any hopes of further development, saying, “Families across the Goulburn Valley now have better access to world-class emergency care and facilities, with the final stage of the Andrews Labor Government’s redevelopment almost complete.”
Ms Thomas avoided answering questions regarding the next stage of GV Health’s redevelopment.
“I’m here at the completion of what has been a major investment in Goulburn Valley Health and our government is committing more money than has ever committed before to improve health infrastructure right across the state,” she said.
“The government has made a significant investment in Goulburn Valley Health, but there is always more to do, and as I travel around the state, I’m very happy to meet with boards and CEOs and talk about their future needs and to take all those into consideration.”
She said the State Government’s $25M investment for the future construction of an early parenting centre, new aged care facilities in Numurkah and a primary care centre showed their support of the region.
“I’m proud of the investment that we’re making for the Goulburn Valley community,” she said.
State Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has hit back saying, “It is insulting for Labor to expect the Goulburn Valley community to celebrate what is currently a job half done.”
With the State Budget to be delivered in May, Ms Lovell is calling on the Andrews Government to commit funding to the complete redevelopment of GV Health, and she is seeking for the GV Health Masterplan to be released publicly.
Ms Thomas officially opened the GV Health’s redeveloped emergency department on Thursday, March 16. The redevelopment is fully operational and has doubled the emergency department’s capacity, with 44 new treatment spaces, nine short-stay beds for patients who require care for less than 24-hours, and the latest technology with two new x-ray rooms, a CT scan room and ultrasound room.
