Budget’s hospital funding announced

THE state government will spend record levels of funding on hospitals in Lorne and Winchelsea, among others.

Last week, Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney announced $3.26 million for Lorne Community Hospital ($68,000 higher than the previous 12 months) and $3.61 million for Hesse Rural Health ($89,000 more than the previous 12 months).

She said the funding had increased by 12.4 and 13.7 per cent, respectively, since 2014/15, and was part of the $11.5 billion allocated to all Victorian hospitals in the 2018/19 budget.

Labor says the statewide funding boost of 10 per cent than the previous 12 months would ensure Victoria’s hospitals could provide the best treatment and care to the 1.9 million patients expected to be admitted to hospital and the 1.8 million Victorians who will need access to emergency departments in the coming 12 months.

Ms Tierney said the funding was being delivered to ensure hospitals could treat more patients faster, and closer to home.

“Our doctors, nurses, allied and other healthcare workers dedicate themselves each day to care for us when we need it.

“We’re helping them by opening more beds to reduce patient waiting times for surgery and emergency care.”