A campaign to force the state government to fix the dilapidated Footscray Hospital is continuing despite the government rejecting calls for new funding.
Western Health is seeking redevelopment of Footscray hospital, including a doubling of emergency department beds to 59, with its ‘Changing Health for a Changing West’ briefing document warning that a delay to work will push up project costs by more than
$100 million.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland has created a petition calling for the emergency and inpatient departments to be redeveloped as a matter of urgency.
Teams of volunteers have been doorknocking in the neighbourhood to build support to pressure the government to act.
“I won’t stop campaigning until I have money on the table from the government for the redevelopment of Footscray Hospital’s decrepit facilities,” Ms Hartland said.
She called on Health Minister and Altona MP Jill Hennessy to ensure funding for the redevelopment.
“The people of the western suburbs deserve quality hospital facilities. As an MP for the west in the seat of Altona, we expect her to deliver.”
Ms Hennessy said the Department of Health and Human Services was working with Western Health to improve emergency access and patient care at Footscray Hospital, including a redesign of emergency department processes and models of care.
“We understand Victoria’s growing and ageing population means growing demand for emergency services, particularly in the west,” she said.
“The Andrews government has committed $200 million to build the Western Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Sunshine to improve care for families in the west.”
An online petition at www.greenswest.org/footscray_hospital has more than 350 signatures.
