Today’s announcement by the Andrews Labor Government is an admission of failure by a State Government that has mismanaged our health system over the last two years.
The additional funding comes as too little too late for a system that continues to fall apart and is failing Victorians in need.
Elective surgery has been disrupted for 126 days as a record number of more than 80,000 Victorians are now waiting in pain and in limbo for essential surgery which they still don’t know when will occur.
This week, new families have been told their scheduled maternal and child nurse visits have been suspended – risking the health and developments of mothers and their children. Maternity services have been re-located from Dandenong to Casey hospital demonstrating the local support for new families is just not there.
Whilst New South Wales has managed COVID hospitalisations more than three times those in Victoria without calling a Code Brown and suspending vital support service to new babies and parents, Victoria’s health crisis continues to spiral further into decline denying Victorians the basic care and treatment they deserve.
In March 2020, the Andrews Government promised $1.3 billion to prepare our health system for the COVID pandemic – yet almost two years later, the promised ICU staff, 4000 beds and equipment remain undelivered.
Daniel Andrews has been Premier or Health Minister for 11 of the last 15 years. No one in Victoria is more responsible for the fallings of our health system than he is.
The Andrews Government has had two years to prepare for COVID, but years of underinvestment and a lack of proper planning and preparation over the past two years is leading to a health crisis that is putting the lives of Victorians at risk.
Comments attributable to the Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier:
“This announcement is too little, too late for a healthcare system that has fallen apart under the Andrews Labor Government’s mismanagement.
“More spin won’t cut essential surgery wait times or get mothers and new babies the basic support services they deserve.
“Daniel Andrews has run Victoria’s health system as Premier or Health Minister for 11 of the last 15 years – he has failed to act and must take responsibility.
“We need a real plan, not more spin, to get our healthcare back on track and better managed to ensure it delivers the services that Victorians deserve.”