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A bigger, better Maroondah Hospital
Saturday 17 September 2022
Communities across Melbourne’s growing east will receive the healthcare they deserve under a new commitment announced today by the Victorian Liberals.
Melbourne’s eastern suburbs are sharing the pain of Victoria’s current health crisis.
Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood East is one of several major public hospitals that continues to experience regular ambulance ramping and elective surgery delays as existing infrastructure fails to keep up. Conditions have become so bad that patients are now being treated in tents in the carpark and forced to use portable toilets.
The Maroondah Hospital is the only major public hospital in the outer east with residents of Lilydale, Mooroolbark and the Yarra Valley relying on it heavily for surgeries and emergency care.
Eastern Health’s primary catchment area population is expected to grow by around 13 per cent between 2016 and 2031, with an aging population across several local communities.
Therefore, as part of the Victorian Liberals’ plan to fix the health crisis, a Matt Guy Liberal Government will provide $400 million for a major upgrade to Maroondah Hospital.
A key feature of the major upgrade to Maroondah Hospital will be to improve and expand training facilities to increase capacity for additional trainee nurses and doctors.
This upgrade and refurbishment project will be planned in consultation with Eastern Health, staff and the local community and may include:
• A new emergency department
• A new ICU and critical care unit
• A new wing to accommodate an expansion of the number of beds by 100 to 426 beds
• Additional and refurbished operating theatre suites
• Improved and expanded facilities to cater for increasing numbers of trainee nurses and doctors
• A Stage 2 expansion of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre
• Refurbished and expanded mental health unit facilities
• An additional 300 car spaces to be provided with 150 spaces for public access and 150 for staff
This project is the fourteenth announced major hospital to be constructed or redeveloped under a Matt Guy Liberals Government, with funding to be reprioritised from shelving Daniel Andrews’ $35 billion Cheltenham to Box Hill rail line.
Leader of the Liberal Party, Matt Guy, said this commitment was an important part of the Liberals’ plan to fix the health crisis.
“As Premier, my first priority will be to fix the health crisis and ensure all Victorians can get the healthcare they deserve.”
“For too long communities across Melbourne’s growing east have struggled to access quality and timely healthcare – my plan will change that.”
“This November, Victorians have a choice. Real solutions to fix the health crisis now or a train line from Cheltenham to Box Hill that won’t be built for 13 years.”
“This significant commitment is a real solution to deliver a world-class health service in the heart of Melbourne’s east.”
Local Evelyn MP, Bridget Vallence, said only the Liberals had real solutions to restore community confidence to Victoria’s healthcare system.
“After years of neglect and underinvestment, Maroondah Hospital has fallen behind, meaning communities across the outer east and Yarra Ranges are struggling to access the healthcare they deserve.”
“It’s shocking that patients are forced to use portable toilets and be treated in a tent in the car park at Maroondah Hospital. That’s not health care and our community deserves much better.”
“Our commitment means more beds, a new emergency department, ICU, cancer care, and nurse training facilities, so crucial to ensure we fix the health crisis and deliver a modern facility for residents and the healthcare workforce.”
“Daniel Andrews has run our health system into the ground, being Premier or Health Minister for 12 of the past 16 years. As the person who broke the system he isn’t the one to fix it.”
“Only the Liberals can fix the health crisis without burdening households and small businesses with even more taxes and a higher cost of living.”
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