WESTERN suburbs patients remain in limbo despite the federal government’s backflip over funding cuts.
Last month, the Weekly reported the $107 million in cuts statewide had forced 1300 elective surgery cancellations at Footscray, Sunshine and Williamstown hospitals.
Western Health chief executive Alex Cockram welcomed last week’s reversal of the $6.46 million cuts to the west but warned there might still be an adverse impact.
“Over the course of the next week or more, we would expect to receive clarification from the federal government and be able to make firmer decisions about what the announcement will mean for patients and services,” she said.
A war of words between the state and federal governments erupted last week, with Premier Ted Baillieu criticising the reinstatement as an interim measure to fix cuts that never should have happened.
But Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in a letter to the Premier, was scathing of the state’s handling of health and its own deep budget cuts.
Western suburbs Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury said the federal government must reverse the further $368 million in cuts slated for beyond June 30.
“The Federal Labour Government needs to end the uncertainty for hospital staff and patients and commit to reinstating all of the money that was promised to the Victorian health system.”
Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon said the reinstated funding would bypass the state government and go directly to Western Health. “The Baillieu government’s incompetence and mismanagement has proven time and again that they can’t be trusted,” she said.
“I call on Mr Baillieu to restore the $616 million of cuts, which means providing $37.07 million to Western Health.”
