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Wednesday, December 15, 2021
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HEALTH EMERGENCY MANSFIELD hospital had a visit from a host of Liberal politicians on Monday intent to see our local facility’s needs are met. (From left) Senator Jane Hume, Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish, Federal Minister for Aged Care Richard Colbeck, Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell, Mansfield Hospital chair Murray Beattie and Mansfield Hospital CEO Cameron Butler. PHOTO: Sandra Lee Photography
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Mansfield hospital in the spotlight Host of politicians visit local hospital to address long standing need for a rebuild THE Mansfield District Hospital was on the national agenda on Monday morning, with Wendy Lovell, Senator Jane Hume and Federal Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck joining state Liberal member for Eildon Cindy McLeish at the hospital to discuss plans for a rebuild.
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With a federal election yet to be scheduled for the beginning of 2022, ministers and Senators are using this opportune moment to draw attention to funding gaps within regional health care,
with the Mansfield District Hospital and the need for an aged care facility in Bright both under the spotlight. Ms McLeish addressed the issue in a recent parliamentary sitting, calling on the State Government to commit funding to invest in developing Mansfield District Hospital’s Master Plan. The Master Plan involves
building a new hospital and Community Health and High Needs Centre on new land in Mansfield, with the plan submitted to the Building Authority over two years ago, in November 2019. “It is just as important to provide modern health and medical facilities in regional and rural areas as it is in metropolitan Melbourne,”
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Ms McLeish said. The issue has now garnered federal interest, with Ms McLeish emphasising that one of the key needs in Mansfield was additional infrastructure for aged care. “Mansfield’s population is also booming, growing at 3.5 per cent per annum,” Ms McLeish said. “Many young families are
moving to the area and the hospital needs to expand and modernise to accommodate growing numbers.” The current facilities at the hospital are not able to keep pace with the community’s changing needs, especially with the additional pressure and demands caused by a pandemic. ■ Continued page 3
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