Big boost for regional health services

LOCAL MPs have announced a $50 million boost for regional hospitals and health services.

Local members Lisa Neville, Christine Couzens and John Eren made the State Budget 2018/19 announcement last week, which brings the total investment from the Andrews Labor Government’s flagship Regional Health Infrastructure Fund up to $250 million.

So far, the fund has allocated money to 172 projects across the state over two rounds, including more than $5.4 million for health services in Geelong.

In round one, Labor invested more than $1.9 million at Barwon Health to install an integrated wireless cardiac monitoring system at Geelong Hospital and replace both an existing audio visual system for the Barwon Health Cancer Program and a call bell system at Alan David Lodge.

In round two, Barwon Health received more than $3.4 million to refurbish both the McKellar Centre Hydrotherapy Pool and the Mental Health Acute Unit within the hospital.

More round two projects will be announced over coming months.

This year’s boost will fund even more projects to improve the quality and safety of hospital infrastructure, meet growing demand for healthcare and provide world-class equipment to improve patient outcomes.