Friday, 12 October 2018

Gippslanders will be able to get the healthcare they need faster and close to home with a re-elected Andrews Labor Government to deliver a massive expansion of the Latrobe Regional Hospital at Traralgon.

The Andrews Labor Government has already delivered a bigger emergency department, cardiac surgery facilities and more than 70 new hospital beds for Gippsland families, with an upgrade of the hospital opened this year.

There’s more to do and only Labor will invest $217 million to build the next stage of Latrobe Regional Hospital’s expansion, delivering an additional 44 new beds and slashing elective surgery waiting times.

The hospital’s theatre complex will be expanded to include three new operating theatres and an additional 14 new medical and surgical beds for recovery, which will provide up to 6,200 more elective surgeries per year and cut waiting times.

Mums and bubs will get the very best care with the maternity unit to be expanded with two new birthing suites and six new maternity beds, as well as six special care nursery cots.

Locals can also have peace of mind knowing that if they’re in an accident or emergency, they’ll be able to get the help they need locally with the project to include six new intensive care unit beds and an additional emergency department bay.

There will also be 227 new car parking spaces, making it easier for family and friends to visit a loved one in the hospital.

The project will create 600 construction jobs, with a re-elected Labor Government to finalise the designs next year and finish work by 2023.

The Victorian Liberals cut more than $1 billion out of our health system, closing hospital beds and leaving thousands of Victorians stuck on waiting lists.

Cuts are in the Liberals’ DNA, with Scott Morrison now trying to push through a dud national health funding agreement that will short-change Victorian hospitals by $2.1 billion. This will see Latrobe Regional Hospital miss out on $4 million – that’s 242 hip replacements, 7,793 dialysis treatments or 3,600 chemotherapy treatments.

Only Labor will make sure Gippsland families get the very best, affordable public healthcare close to home with a bigger and better Latrobe Regional Hospital.

Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“This will get people in Gippsland off waiting lists and into surgery sooner, in a modern hospital that’s close to home with the very best care.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

 “A massive expansion of Latrobe Regional Hospital will give local families peace of mind that world-class treatment and care is just around the corner when a loved one gets sick or an emergency strikes.”

 Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“We are absolutely determined to invest in a strong and healthy future for Gippsland and to support the ongoing delivery of world-class clinical and patient care in the Latrobe Valley. Only Labor will deliver these new public hospital beds and expanded services right here at Latrobe Regional Hospital.”