By Callan Date
CASEY Hospital is in a crisis with more than 1700 people waiting for elective surgery, an opposition MP says.
Opposition Health spokeswoman Helen Shardey made the call following last week’s release of the State Government’s Your Hospital report.
Ms Shardey said the latest survey revealed a health system which was buckling under the pressure of the Government’s inaction.
“There are 1722 patients on the waiting list and 2747 patients endured more than four hours waiting in the Emergency Department waiting room before being treated and discharged,” Ms Shardey said.
“Each one of these reported figures represents a Victorian in pain, seeking treatment, yet they are only a small part of a continuing crisis.
“The state of Victorian hospitals has been rapidly declining and waiting lists are only increasing.
“The Brumby Government is clearly embarrassed by these figures, especially the failure to meet two out of the eight benchmarks in key critical areas, so it has chosen to release this damning report on the day of the Federal Budget,” Ms Shardey said.
Casey Hospital recently received $4.2 million to help upgrade the Special Care Nursery at the Kangan Drive centre.
The funding was part of the State Government budget.
Ms Shardey said the elective surgery figures released reveal only some of the patients languishing on hospital waiting lists in Victoria.
“The only way to understand the full extent of pressures on hospitals and patients waiting for treatment is for the Brumby Government to fully disclose all their secret waiting lists,” she said.
“The Brumby Government has severely underestimated hospital demand, creating a chronic shortfall in funding.
“In so doing, they have placed Victorian hospitals under unsustainable pressure.”
A State Government spokesman said several performances targets were not met during the survey period.
“Victorian hospitals treated a record number of patients during that time, despite the impact of a severe flu season, a spike in gastro cases and industrial action by the state’s nurses,” he said.
The spokesman said the Government had announced a $1.81 billion boost for health, including elective surgery, outpatient appointments, emergency departments and ambulance services.
“This money will enable an extra 60,000 to receive treatments each year, while a blitz on elective surgery will provide for an additional 9400 operation for long-wait patients on hospital lists,” he said.
“To tackle the challenges of the busy winter season, the Government is also funding a $6 million winter demand strategy, which includes opening up an extra 100 hospital beds for up to 100 days.”
