NEWS DESK
Political points scoring over hospital expansion Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au
Doing the rounds: Patient Jeanette Murphy, left, Health Minister Jill Hennessy, Peninsula Health chief operating officer Brendon Gardner, Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke, Channel 9 reporter Andrew Lund and Peninsula Health chairwoman Nancy Hogan at the official opening of Frankston Hospital’s new building. Picture: Gary Sissons
THE opening of Frankston Hospital’s new $81 million emergency department last week was marred by political bickering. As part of the spoils of Labor’s state election victory in November, Health Minister Jill Hennessy attended the opening of the new emergency department. The new emergency department houses 49 beds and the new hospital wing has three additional wards with 92 new beds. Ms Hennessy attacked the former Coalition state government at the emergency department’s official opening event last Tuesday morning. “Under the Liberals, our health system was in crisis and too many patients were waiting too long for treatment, including here on the peninsula,” she said. “The Andrews Labor government is working hard to rebuild our health system, with a $200 million boost to find and open the beds and theatres that the Liberals closed.” Liberal opposition deputy leader Gordon Rich-Phillips fired back with some political shots of his own. “It’s great to see this project come to fruition. Not only was this project delivered on time, it was delivered 10 per cent under budget, which meant savings of over $8 million were able to be re-invested in new
New hospital wing opened THE opening of Frankston’s Hospital’s new $81 million building has been hailed “an important milestone” by Peninsula Health. Health Minister Jill Hennessy visited the hospital last Tuesday (17 February) to officially open the new emergency department and three additional wards. Patients began being accepted to the new wards last Thursday. “The opening of this new building marks an important milestone in
Frankston Hospital’s proud 74 year history. The last five years have seen more than $150 million invested in capital works for critical care, emergency medicine, and general medical services,” Peninsula Health chairwoman Nancy Hogan said. Known as Frankston Stage 3, the new Building A includes a new emergency department, a coronary care unit and two general wards. Peninsula Health CEO Sue Williams said “this significant development
to Frankston Hospital is designed to address the acute health needs across the fast-growing Mornington Peninsula region.” “Not only are the facilities and equipment amongst the best available, the quality of care from a patient’s perspective remains at the heart of this project.” The three new wards have single and double rooms with ensuite bathrooms and communal areas for visitors.
services for the hospital,” he said. “Unfortunately due to the Andrews Labor government dumping the state’s building watchdog’s Construction Code Compliance Unit, Victorians are unlikely to ever see projects like these being delivered within budget and on time under a Labor government.” Turning his sights on the new Premier, Mr Rich-Phillips accused Daniel Andrews of being “inextricably linked to the unions and the CFMEU”. “The scrapping of this unit is just part of his union payback. This means dodgy deals, weak compromises and more uncertainty for Victorian families.” Frankston Hospital’s much-needed expansion had looked like being one of the few instances of bipartisanship between the state Labor and Liberal parties before the latest bout of political pot shots broke out. The hospital’s redevelopment began under the former Bracks Labor government and works and funding continued under the Coalition Napthine government which lost the state election last November. When in opposition, both major parties relentlessly criticise ambulance ramping times and patient wait times in emergency, and then praise any statistical improvements when in government.
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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Frankston Times 23 February 2015
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