More beds soon

By Bridget Cook
CASEY Hospital could welcome 30 new sub-acute beds – but only if a Federal Labor Government is formed.
But Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing David Davis said if the Coalition gets in, more funding could be made available.
Early this year an agreement was reached between the Victorian and Commonwealth Labor Governments that Southern Health will receive $29.2 million for capital works and extra beds.
Included in that is funding for new beds at Casey Hospital, as well as $7 million to treat more emergency patients faster.
State Member for Narre Warren North Luke Donnellan has welcomed the news.
“Our expectation is that funding will be available for additional beds at Casey which will mean that the hospital can accommodate more patients, which is great news for local health services,” Mr Donnellan said.
He said however that the funding was only made available due to the agreement between to state and federal Labor governments and that he was concerned about the Liberals’ plans to slash funding from the hospital system.
“It would be great news for hospitals in the region, but if Tony Abbott and the Liberals form the Federal Government we may not see these beds,” he said.
State Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced funding breakdowns for Victoria’s health services from the National Health and Hospitals Network agreement with Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon.
Through the health agreement with the Commonwealth, Victoria secured more than $900 million investment in health and hospitals over the next four years.
Mr Davis said the health deal struck between John Brumby and the Federal Government was only 20 per cent of what was outlined as the absolute minimum.
“The deal that was negotiated was one of the weakest deals Victoria has ever struck,” he said.
“Casey hospital was under scoped when it was built six years ago. The hospital hasn’t had the capacity to treat patients that was required and they haven’t focused on the growth that was required.
“They are now forced to play catch-up.
Mr Davis said if a Coalition Government is formed there could possibly be more funding.
“With the Coalition’s announcement, there was much better funding forhospital beds, which is critical problem at Casey, and much better funding for mental health, also an important issue in Casey,” he said.