News

Health | October 11, 2022

Urgent need for Hamilton hospital redevelopment

Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Emma Kealy is calling on the Andrews Labor Government to provide the funding necessary to construct a new intensive care unit and emergency department at the Hamilton Base Hospital.

Ms Kealy said Western District Health Service, supported by members of the local community, had been building a case for redevelopment of the Hamilton Base Hospital campus for almost a decade.

“I have inspected the ICU and ED at the Hamilton Base Hospital and strongly support Western District Health Service’s request for funding support to bring this vital project to fruition,” she said.

“The existing buildings are significantly aged and in urgent need of major works to support the fabulous staff at Western District Health Service to deliver the best possible healthcare to our local people.

“We know that attracting and retaining clinical and support staff is getting harder in regional Victoria, which is one of the many reasons we need to ensure our rural health facilities are first-class.

“The Andrews Labor Government must recognise that families in rural Victoria need access to quality health care just as much as families living in Melbourne.”

Ms Kealy said last year, just 13.4 per cent of the state’s infrastructure spend was directed to rural and regional Victoria, and only 11 per cent the year before.

“Rural and regional Victoria have been ripped off by Labor for far too long,” she said.

“With 25 per cent of Victoria’s population living in rural and regional Victoria, we deserve no less than 25 per cent of the state’s new infrastructure budget.

“If elected to government in November, The Nationals’ regional infrastructure guarantee will ensure rural and regional Victorians get their fair share of infrastructure funding so projects like the new intensive care unit and emergency department at the Hamilton Base Hospital can become a reality.”